Some respectfully call her "Justine la machine", others affectionately "Juju": Justine Mettraux is the most successful skipper of the 10th Vendée Globe and the best non-French participant. Even before her successful solo storm around the world, the Swiss woman was already one of the most successful power players in international sailing. She has won the Ocean Race twice, triumphing first with Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team in 2017/2018 and then with Charlie Enright's most recent winners from the US team 11th Hour Racing.
Vendée Globe: Ellen, Clarisse, Justine
Justine Mettraux has now scaled the highest peak in solo sport in impressive style. After 76 days, 1 hour, 36 minutes and 52 seconds, the new female Vendée Globe record belongs to her. Justine Mettraux has taken just over eleven days off Clarisse Crémer's previous record (87 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes). Four years ago, the Frenchwoman beat the two-decade old record held by England's sailing icon Ellen MacArthur (94 days, 4 hours).
Clarisse Crémer was still battling at sea on Saturday, facing brutal Bay of Biscay storm forecasts for her final on Sunday, when "TeamWork - Team Snef" skipper Justine Mettraux roared to the finish. The Swiss woman has now raised the Vendée Globe bar for women into the seventies - just one of the outstanding performances on her debut.
I associate wonderful moments with this Vendée Globe. In the end, my mainsail tore in a gybe. It was my fault, but luckily it only happened in the last 24 hours and didn't cost me too much." Justine Mettraux
The 38-year-old from Geneva followed her course to the finish line just behind Thomas Ruyant, one of the top favourites in this tenth anniversary edition of the solo race around the world. She has her "only" 28,101.6 nautical miles over ground in the stern water, which she mastered at an average of 15.4 knots. Justine has challenged the best in Imoca performance sport on an equal footing. Anyone with a family like this exceptional skipper can only aspire to the top.
Five siblings conquer the sailing world
"My father brought us up alone and trusted us in everything," she once told Swiss Review, explaining the foundation on which she was able to grow and develop. Like Justine Mettraux, sisters Elodie (Ocean Race) and Laurane (SailGP) and brothers Bryan (America's Cup) and Nelson (Motte, J/70) grew up racing on Lake Geneva.
Justine is the figurehead, who has contested her solo without frills and powerfully, parrying setbacks with even harder work. The first Swiss woman at the Vendée Globe has also left her compatriots Alan Roura and Oliver Heer behind, who were in 20th and 30th place respectively heading into Saturday's finish.
Justine Mettraux started the race on Jérémie Beyou's very well prepared ex-"Charal". Only active in the Imoca class since 2020, she quickly felt at home on the VPLP design from 2018. The foiler built by CDK in Port-la-Forêt is the second oldest boat in the top ten behind Benjamin Dutreux's boat (2015). It has travelled the world in style. Accompanied by family photos and a few mermaids given to her by friends, Justine Mettraux showed off her skills to good effect.
Learnt in Geneva, shone at the Vendée Globe
The sailor from the Alinghi Club Société Nautique de Genève acquired some of her skills as a teenager at the regatta training centre in Geneva. This was followed by "learning by doing" in high potency. But Justine Mettraux was and is no loudspeaker. She impresses with her work and her sailing skills on the water. Of the six women in the current Vendée Globe edition, she had the best overall package to offer. It was also more successful than that of 29 men.
Just 25 minutes after Justine Mettraux, Brit Sam Goodchild crossed the finish line. The "Vulnerable" skipper from Thomas Ruyant's TR Racing team led the race several times in the opening phase on his debut. He will also be remembered for the thrilling duel he fought with Vendée Globe fourth-placed Jérémie Beyou in the final phase before his mainsail exploded in a crash gybe in stormy winds.
By repairing the mainsail, which had torn in two, the ever optimistic and combative Sam Goodchild achieved a much admired feat in the most difficult conditions. Sam Goodchild thus secured his more than deserved place in the top ten. His time: 76 days, 2 hours, 1 minute and 45 seconds. Over ground, Goodchild has travelled 28,557.07 nautical miles at an average speed of 15.64 knots.
REPLAY: Click here for the broadcast of the channel parades by Justine Mettraux and Sam Goodchild:
