© Jean-Louis Carli / Alea

This Friday at 10h40 UTC, after 74 days, 22 hours and 38 minutes of racing Paul Meilhat crossed the finish line in Les Sables d'Olonne to take fifth place on this 10th edition of the Vendée Globe. For the 42 year old the result underlines the remarkable tenacity and talent which he showed on the 2016-17 race which he had to abandon due to a keel ram failure whilst lying third.

Meilhat’s resilience has been shown many times on and off the water. On this race he has ground out his fifth place making smart, assured moves in the South Atlantic, repairing several technical problems and then pushing hard and fast up the Atlantic to finally break away from Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB) in the last few days to secure fifth.

After winning the 2018 Route du Rhum, he didn’t manage to launch a project for the 2020 Vendée Globe. In 2022, he is back with a new campaign, in Biotherm colours in which he also led his team to fourth place on the last The Ocean Race. And when he needed new foils after he damaged one in the Transat CIC Meilhat took a personal bank loan to fund the replacements.

His solo race around the world has been punctuated by critical situations that have tested his limits and challenged his legendary determination. On 14 January, while sailing up the Atlantic, his IMOCA suffered a major breakdown: the forestay gave way, endangering the rig. Determined to bring his boat back to Vendée, he climbed the mast to repair it, a risky manoeuvre that he successfully carried out.

His arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne was charged with emotion. The fatigue was visible on his face, but also an immense pride in having completed this extraordinary adventure. With this 5th place, Paul Meilhat confirms his status as one of the best skippers of his generation. This Vendée Globe has been an exceptional human and sporting adventure for him, marked by bold strategic choices and unwavering tenacity. His return to Les Sables d’Olonne bears witness to the respect and admiration he inspires.