After a thrilling and long-running duel with winner Charlie Dalin, the PAPREC ARKÉA skipper completed his first solo round the world race this morning at 0612 UTC, taking a superb second place after 65 days, 18 hours and 10 minutes at sea.

It’s a remarkable achievement for a Vendée Globe first timer and a large, passionate crowd gathered to welcome Yoann back to Les Sables d’Olonne before dawn on a freezing winter’s morning.

His arrival symbolises the culmination of an extraordinary adventure and the crowds lining the legendary Les Sables d’Olonne channel exploded with joy and applause as the silhouette of the boat emerged. The sailor, smiling and visibly moved, greeted the crowd, savouring every moment of this celebration of his success and tenacity.

Yoann Richomme has left an indelible mark on the already storied history of the Vendée Globe. From the very first days of the race, back in November, he established himself as a formidable opponent, demonstrating mastery across the extraordinarily wide gamut of talents needed to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation.

© Olivier Blanchet / Alea

A key strategic decision was his choice in the Indian Ocean to take the safe route around a giant low pressure system, while Charlie Dalin and Sébastien Simon opted for the direct route, through the centre of this dangerous system. This gamble, which he regretted after seeing his competitors emerge with a significant lead, pushed him to redouble his efforts. In the deep south, he adopted an impressive pace, repeatedly putting in remarkable performances in demanding and relentless conditions. This tenacity was rewarded when he rounded Cape Horn in the lead, with a 9 minutes and 30 second advantage over Charlie Dalin. 

A thrilling game of cat and mouse followed, where the two sailors traded blows, as they competing for every mile of advantage until the unpredictable conditions of the cold front at Cape Frio, where Charlie managed to escape. Despite this, Yoann showed impressive fighting spirit to the last, maintaining constant pressure on his opponent. 

A second place in his first participation in the Vendée Globe is proof of an exceptional sailor in the most demanding competition in the sporting world. By completing this loop around the planet 22 hours and 47 minutes after the winner, he has inscribed his name among the leading figures of this legendary race. 

© Olivier Blanchet / Alea

FIRST WORDS

"The emotion of completing a round-the-world journey is beyond words. I don’t know if it was ever a dream I had truly envisioned, but one thing is certain: we did it. It feels like I left just two days ago, carried by an incredible rhythm. I sailed the way I train, like on smaller races, without ever straying from what I know how to do. But this time, I faced someone stronger than me. Charlie was simply unbeatable. He has been stratospheric in IMOCA for several seasons, and it’s incredibly hard to challenge him. I’m happy for him to have taken such a well-deserved revenge on the past.

As for me, I feel an immense pride in leading a team that, three years ago, started from scratch and achieved this second place in the Vendée Globe, even coming close to victory. This success belongs to all the people who supported us and made it possible for me to reach this point. I want to celebrate this achievement with everyone, savor it, and then turn the page to move on to something new.

I’m also proud of all the work we did beforehand. Mentally, I was ready. The boat was in perfect shape—I barely had to make any repairs during the entire race. That’s the real achievement, the one that fills me with satisfaction.

Before setting off, I had my fears. Not so much about breaking something, but about missing my Vendée Globe, not performing well, finishing with a poor result, or not seeing anything of this incredible journey—not a single landmass, nothing. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. I was amazed from start to finish. Every piece of land I spotted felt like a child discovering treasure. Now I dream of traveling, of taking the time to truly explore these islands and landscapes. This round-the-world journey might just be the start of a new adventure—one of exploring the world differently, once racing is behind me.

That said, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Let’s be honest—there were tough moments. The pace was brutal, especially in the South Atlantic, where it was all about breaking record after record. Life onboard was grueling, almost unbearable. But from the end of the Indian Ocean onwards, it felt like a dream. The boat flew without pause, the weather systems aligned perfectly, and we sailed so well it must have been discouraging for the others.

I had a big scare in the North Atlantic when we were three days behind previous editions. I was worried it would drag on forever. But the potential of these boats is incredible. It’s up to us to adapt, to rethink how they’re designed.

I also remember a moment, on just the second day of the race near Cape Finisterre, when I almost collided with a trawler. I was on the deck, changing a sail, and it passed barely ten meters to my left. It’s incredible how everything can come down to such tiny margins. And that’s what makes this sport so magical—managing to fit all the little pieces together so that everything works out."