Jean-Luc Van Den Heede
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File:VDH Yann Eliès VG2012.jpg
VDH and Yann Eliès at the start of the Vendée Globe 2012-13
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (born 8 June 1945 in Amiens) is a French sailor. He is best known for his achievements in single-handed sailing and set the current world-record for the westabout circumnavigation (he holds the overall record, i.e. although he sailed solo, nobody was faster on this route with a crewed boat).
He started sailing at the age of 17. In the Breton port city of Lorient he worked as a mathematics teacher. After 1989 he became a full-time sailor. Among sailors, he is also known by his initials VDH.
Achievements
- 1977 : 2nd of the Mini Transat
- 1979 : 2nd of the Mini Transat
- 1986 : 2nd of the BOC Challenge on Let's Go
- 1990 : 3rd of the Vendée Globe on 3615 MET
- 1993 : 2nd of the Vendée Globe on Sofap Helvim
- 1993 : 4th of the Transat Jacques Vabre
- 1995 : 3rd of the BOC Challenge on Vendée Entreprises
- 1998 : 2nd of the Route du Rhum on Algimouss
- 2002 : Record crossing of the Channel aboard Adrien with Karen Leibovici
- 2004 : Record westabout circumnavigation in 122d 14h 3min 49s.
External links
- Official website (French)
