SBS will be bringing sports fans all the best moments from this year’s race with weekly extended highlights available via SBS On Demand and the SBS Sport website.
Known as the 'Everest of the seas', the Vendee Globe is the only sailing race around the world that’s solo, non-stop, and without assistance.
Beginning in 1989 with only 13 entries, 2020’s ninth edition of the race featured 33 starters, the most in the event’s history.
While 167 captains have contested the Vendee Globe in its history, only 89 have crossed the finish line with the freezing cold, gigantic waves and wild weather making it one of the toughest events in world sport.
Already eight days into the race, leader Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss boat) has reached Cape Verde on the west coast of Africa, as he leads the flotilla towards the equator.
While it is only early days, event organisers believe this year’s race could be the quickest in history with the winner to break the record of Armel Le Cleac’h, who in 2017 finished in 74 days and 3 hours.
Vendee Globe technical director Ross Daniel praised Thomson’s performance during the first week, which included sailing through the 60-knot winds of tropical storm Theta.
"Alex has managed to get himself into a great position this early in the race,” Daniel said.
On Thursday night, he took a tactical decision to carry out a series of gybes back towards the low-pressure system, which the rest of the leading group chose not to do.
“Consequently, Alex made some good gains to the south which allowed him to approach Storm Theta at a preferred angle," he said.
“Over the last week, Alex has worked hard to preserve the boat through variable conditions and sail fast when he can.
“Both Alex and the boat are in good shape."
If Thomson can maintain his lead all the way to the end, he will become the first non-Frenchman to win the Vendee Globe.
