Violette Dorange Becomes Youngest Sailor To Finish Vendée Globe At 23

French sailor Violette Dorange made history by becoming the youngest person ever to complete the Vendée Globe, the famous solo round-the-world yacht race. At 23 years old, she secured 25th place, finishing in 90 days, 22 hours, and 37 minutes.

Her achievement surpasses the previous record set by Swiss skipper Alan Roura, who finished the 2016-17 Vendée Globe in 105 days, just six days before turning 24.

Dorange’s accomplishment places her among the most promising ocean racers of her generation. She was greeted by a massive crowd at Les Sables d’Olonne, where hundreds of thousands of supporters celebrated her arrival.

She has been passionate about sailing since childhood. At 15, she made headlines by navigating the English Channel and the Straits of Gibraltar in an Optimist dinghy, a small boat designed for young sailors. She went on to win multiple youth world championship medals in the 420 class before transitioning to offshore racing.

Her experience includes completing the Mini Transat at 18, a challenging solo Atlantic crossing. She then spent three years competing in the Figaro class, where she secured a Top 10 overall finish in 2022.

She also participated in two dou…

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