She has fulfilled her teenage dream and is already thinking about the next Vendée Globe: Pip Hare, fighter, second-best skipper of the ninth edition and communications queen, has crossed the finish line. The 47-year-old crossed the line in 19th place in the early morning of 12 February at 1.57 a.m. local time, making the woman, who only discovered solo sailing at the age of 35, the best British woman of the 2020/21 race. The overjoyed "Medallia" skipper received a stormy welcome on her arrival at the start and finish port of Les Sables-d'Olonne despite the bitterly cold night. Vendée Globe King Jean Le Cam also did her the honour, coming on board to congratulate her and giving Pip Hare a warm hug.
"I just can't believe it," Hare kept saying at the finish. "It's the first time anyone has ever told me they took notice of me in a race. I'm still surprised that everyone knew I was there. That's an incredible compliment from each of the skippers who finished ahead of me: to tell me that I did well. It's incredible validation. I just can't believe it."
After 95 days, 11 hours, 37 minutes and 30 seconds and an illuminating final channel passage, Pip Hare was greeted in the Vendée Globe harbour as stormily and emotionally as she had competed in this race. The sailor from the English harbour town of Poole is only the eighth woman to complete the solo race around the world. As a sportswoman, adventurer, journalist and blogger, her way of sailing around the world on a small budget with a big heart and a great talent for communication has captivated and inspired an audience of millions in the Vendée Globe. Pip Hare has taken a 21-year-old Imoca yacht around the world, which the skipper has propelled to 24-hour high-altitude flights of more than 400 nautical miles despite breakages and repeated calls for repairs. Even in its darkest hours, Pip Hare has illuminated the Vendée Globe with a positive attitude, making it a tangible experience.
Jean Le Cam said that night: "She is like radiant sunshine." The Swiss Vendée Globe sailor Bernard Stamm, who built Hare's boat more than 20 years ago, called the Englishwoman "my heroine". However, Hare also had to overcome dramas during her race. She will be remembered, for example, for her challenging rudder change in 25 knots of wind, which she had to carry out after breaking in the deep Pacific in order to continue her premiere. Pip Hare reached the finish line less than 50 nautical miles after Stéphane Le Diraison ("Time For Oceans"), having made up another 100 nautical miles in the last 36 hours and proving her fighting qualities one last time.
With a boat that was built in the same year as Ellen MacArthur's "Kingfisher", the best woman in Vendée Globe history in 2000/01, Pip Hare came very close to MacArthur's overall time. Hare finished just 1 day, 7 hours and 12 minutes behind MacArthur's time achieved two decades ago (94 days, 4 hours, 25 minutes) on an Imoca yacht of the same age. After the retirement of her prominent compatriots Sam Davies and Alex Thomson, it was the "Medallia" skipper who carried the Union Jack highest around the world. When she stood in front of her own camera with braided pigtails and a never-ending smile, sometimes on the verge of tears, and spoke about adversity such as the loss of her wind instruments in the Southern Ocean, she moved an increasingly fervent fan base. What makes this circumnavigator so likeable for many is her down-to-earth attitude. TV presenter Andi Robertson said: "What I like so much about Pip is that she is a completely normal person. She has both feet firmly on the ground, she comes from a very normal family and learnt to sail on cheap dinghies. Her father is a pastor. She has the same passion that Ellen MacArthur once showed."
Launched with crowdfunding and spurred on by last-minute sponsor Medallia, Philippa "Pip" Hare managed to realise her big dream with enormous personal effort and a small, loyal team. Arriving at the dock, Hare said: "We - me and 'Medallia' - are pretty happy to be here. This boat has had enough of me now." Pip Hare set her sights on her next Vendée Globe start on the night of her arrival: "This is by no means my last Vendée Globe. Not at all. Now that I've experienced it and know what to expect and where I can improve, I have to come back. It's also just an incredible race. It makes you grow as a person. So why wouldn't I want to do it again?"
Six boats were still in the race at the end of the 96th day at sea. Didac Costa ("One Planet One Ocean") is expected to be the next skipper in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Ari Huusela from Finland, who still had just under 3,300 nautical miles to go to the finish line on the morning of 12 February, remains in last place for the time being. The "Stark" skipper had recently managed to reduce the gap to Alexia Barrier ("TSE 4MyPlanet"), who was ahead of him, to only around 60 nautical miles.
