A Vendée Globe rookie, Benjamin has come a long way since he discovered ocean racing only six years ago!

At 34, the skipper of Monnoyeur - DUO For a JOB completed his non-stop, unassisted round the world race on February 3 in 16th place in the ranking, after 84 days, 23 hours and 19 minutes at sea. It’s a performance that saw him cross the line 1st of the boats with straight daggerboards in front of his mentor Jean Le Cam.

Problems included rudders, the hydraulic keel ram cylinder, and two broken halyard locks. The self-nicknamed "Pépin" learnt his DIY skills on the job, having confessed his shortcomings in the field before the start, although he now claims to be delighted, "to have discovered a new passion.”

He also enthusiastically shared his fascination with the exotic countries he sailed past, as well as his despair before Cape Leeuwin when he thought his Vendée Globe was over. He also shared without embellishment, off the coast of Brazil, a “monumental blow”, while fatigue fell on him after the passage of a large depression near the Falklands. 

“Even moving around in the boat was becoming a superhuman effort”, says the young Breton, who had already impressed by finishing 4th in the Vendée Arctique in 2022, 15th in the Route du Rhum 2022 and 13th in the Retour à La Base in 2023.

Before the start, his only goal was to “finish at all costs, even if that means swimming to pull my boat”. But his taut routings and assertive options even only a week from the finish, in a pack of eight closely packed boats, Benjamin Ferré certainly did better than that: he really raced with style and success!

Race in figures

Arrival time (UTC): Monday 3 February 2025 at 11h21
Race time : 20d 03h 56min 50s
Difference from first : 20d 03h 56min 50s

Benjamin Ferré covered theoretical course of 23 906 miles at an average speed of 11.72 knots.
Benjamin Ferré covered an actual course of 28 167 miles at an average speed of 13.81 knots.

Source : Vendée Globe