Jean Le Cam finishes 20th in the Vendée Globe 2024

by Vendée Globe media 4 Feb 04:37 UTC 4 February 2025

Jean Le Cam, 20th in the Vendée Globe 2024 © Vendée Globe

Legendary French ocean racing veteran Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère - Armor-lux) completed his fifth successful Vendée Globe solo round the world race at the age of 65 this Tuesday morning when he crossed the finish line off Les Sables d'Olonne in 20th position at 03 53 02 hrs UTC. Since finishing second in February 2004 just over seven hours behind Vincent Riou, Le Cam has successively finished fifth in 2012-13, sixth in 2016-17 and fourth in 2020-2021. He had to abandon the 2008-9 race after his boat overturned near Cape Horn before being rescued by Riou.

Le Roi Jean - King Jean as he is known in his native France - raced a brand new, modern David Raison designed IMOCA which he and Eric Bellion conceived jointly. As usual his wily, experienced strategies paid off at many points on his race but too many times he was snared by periods of light winds at key stages to really be able to make an impression on the top half of the fleet this time. Nonetheless he was again at his phlegmatic, humorous best as he came to terms with the many, many challenges of his race, not least having to climb the mast to replace his J2 forestay. But there was never any doubt how much the veteran is happiest at sea and fully content to be taking on the Vendée Globe again.

While he might appear like an aged rock star with his weather beaten face and the huge unruly quiff of jet black hair, Le Cam might more readily be associated with Sinatra's 'My Way'. He launched himself into a spectacular easterly option off Madeira right from the start of the race, when the trade winds were just not there His audacity paid off but only temporarily. But King Jean was momentarily crowned first in the rankings!

And he had fun with it... "In life you have to dare just believe in yourself!" he said at the time before slumping in a long, long period of light winds crossing the equator in 22nd position.

In the South Atlantic, Jean shows the full potential of this new boat and does takes the lead of his group. "22, 24 knots. Here we are flirting with the limits of stupidity.... It's hot potato, but it should ease off!", says Le Cam crossing the Cape of Good Hope for the ninth time, setting a new speed record for the boat at 32 knots.

In the Indian Ocean he sails a direct straight course in the north and observes from afar the hot head "rookies" who plough through the big storms. Side by side with Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) who had impressed him so much four years ago and also Alan Roura (Hublot) and Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian), Jean Le Cam unfolds a neatly modulated, smart race.

In the Pacific, the weather gods are with him, and once he has got around the initial calm, they offer him a real motorway. He leaves his pack behind to catch up day after day with Damien Segin (Groupe APICIL) and Romain Attanasio (Fortinet - Best Western).

On January 4 at night, for the eighth time in his life, Jean rounds Cape Horn. He is in 16th position. "Oh my goodness!", he exclaims as he passes, also talking to the light house keeper

On January 14, his J2 stay breaks. Caught in the calm, Le Cam drops to 22nd place, and above all had to climb the mast twice to get his rigging back in racing shape.

A failed bet

After the equator, the Azores and their high pressure allowed him to catch up with the pack again, but a broken hook forced him to climb to 29 metres again. Although he didn't spare himself in the final days of the race, Jean Le Cam was unable to keep up with those in front, and finished in 20th place, just ahead of Conrad Colman, and behind his non foiling daggerboard boats Monnoyeur Duo for a Job and Lazare.

Something of an advocate for a place in the fleet for the non foiling modern boats, Le Cam still hailed the "stratospheric" performances of Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA).

His conclusion? "My dream would be to go for a ride with Charlie Dalin on his foiling boat".

Race in figures

Arrival time (UTC) Tuesday 4 February 2025 at 03h53
Race time 85j 15h 51min 02s
Difference from first 20j 20h 28min 13s

Jean Le Cam covered theoretical course of 23,906 miles at an average speed of 11.63 knots.
Jean Le Cam covered an actual course of 27,978 miles at an average speed of 13.61 knots.

Race highlights

16 November 2024
After starting in the pack, Jean takes an option to the east off Madeira. He takes the lead in the rankings and makes a strong impression all the way to Cape Verde!

22 November 2024
Crossing the equator in 22nd position after a tricky Doldrums passage, Jean also finds his shoes in the trash!

29 November 2024
In the South Atlantic, Jean shows the full potential of this new boat and does take the lead of his group (20th).

5 December 2024
9th Cape of Good Hope for Jean.

7 December 2024
Jean sets a new speed record for the boat at 32 knots.

13 December 2024
435 miles covered in 24 hours at an average speed of 18 knots - the veteran is sailing through the Indian Ocean, battling with Isabelle Joschke, Alan Roura, and Giancarlo Pedote.

20 December 2024
Slow entry into the Pacific. The wind is light, but Jean breaks away with Isabelle Joschke!

26 December 2024
A reefing issue is resolved for Jean, who pulls away from his rivals and climbs to 17th place in the rankings.

1 January 2025
As he sails along the Antarctic Exclusion Zone, Jean makes a strong comeback on Damien Seguin and Romain Attanasio after passing Point Nemo.

4 January 2025
For the eighth time in his life, Jean rounds Cape Horn at night. He's in 16th place, "oh wow!"

6 January 2025
Off the Falkland Islands, Jean is flown over by seaplane pilot Marilou. "Such encounters are exceptional because they're unlikely."

7 January 2025
Jean takes 14th place in the rankings after overtaking Damien Seguin and Romain Attanasio, who are stuck in the light wind. But he also slows down and sees the competitors behind catch up.

12 January 2025
Having slipped through a small exit in the system, Jean breaks away towards the East and regains 14th place.

14 January 2025
His J2 forestay breaks. Caught in a calm, Le Cam drops to 22nd place, and had to climb the mast twice to get his rigging back into racing shape.

20 January 2025
After two climbs up the mast, victory - Jean managed to put the staysail back in place.

22 January 2025
Crossing the equator in 21st place, Jean is attacking to catch up with his former group!

28 January 2025
Another climb up the mast after a hook breaks, as the fleet gathers again in the anticyclonic ridge. Hampered by technical issues, Jean can't operate at 100% of his potential and watches the boats ahead pull away!

4 February 2025
Finishes in Les Sables d'Olonne after 85 days in 20th place. At 65 years old, Jean Le Cam completes his fifth Vendée Globe!