Swiss sailor Mettraux becomes fastest female Vendee finisher
The 38-year-old Swiss sailor finished eighth after 76 days, 1 hour and 36 minutes at sea, more than 10 days behind winner Charlie Dalin, but ahead of 26 other surviving boats, which were still at sea.
She broke the women's record of 87 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes set by Frenchwoman Clarisse Cremer in 2020-21. Cremer was approaching the finish line on Saturday evening.
Mettraux was sailing a boat she bought from Frenchman Jeremie Beyou, who finished fourth in his newer model on Friday.
Mettraux's second-hand boat, named "Teamwork", is an old-generation monohull launched in 2018, three years earlier than any of the eight boats that beat her across the line.
"The boat is tired, and so is the skipper," said Mettraux at the end of her first circumnavigation.
"I feel like I've sailed well, and played a bit of a game from time to time. It's been intense."
Mettraux was one of six women to start this edition of the Vendee but said she was not excited by her record as fastest woman.
"There's no separate ranking," she said. "It has more of a symbolic value. My main point is that this is the first time there have been so many women with competitive projects."
The best race finishing position by a woman is second by British sailor Ellen MacArthur who complete the race in 94 days, 4 hours and 25 minutes in 2001.