In addition to 1st place, and a 150,000 Euro prize Vincent Riou has set a new Vendee Globe record of 87 days 6 hours 47 mins 55 secs, average speed 11.28 knots.

This was a gain of 5 days 17 hours 09 mins 37 secs on the time Michel Desjoyeaux set on board the same boat in 2000-2001.

From the 1996 race to the 2000 race the time improved by 12%. From 2000 to 2004 the percentage improvement is 6.1%.

Looked at in terms of records from Around Alone which circles the globe in stages his average speed of 11.28 would be the 2nd highest record average speed.

Riou’s record breaks down this way:

Passage of equator (way out): 18 November 2004 at 0300 GMT after 10 days 14 hours and 58 minutes (in 2nd place to Bonduelle)

Passage of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa): 1st December 2004 at 1420 GMT after 24 days 02 hours and 18 minutes…trailed Bonduelle by 39 miles

Passage of Cape Leeuwin (Australia): 14 December 2004 at 0050 GMT after 36 days 12 hours and 48 minutes…led Bonduelle by 72 miles

Passage of Cape Horn (Chile): on 03 January 2005 at 2045 GMT in 57 days 08 hours and 43 minutes…trailed by 80 miles

Passage of the equator (return): on 19 January 2005 at 0200 GMT after 72 days 13 hours and 58 minutes…ahead by 116 miles

Looking ahead another 6% improvement would mean an 82 day global lap while 12% would mean 76 days…for the 2008-2009 Vendee Globe winner.

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