Vendée Globe: Nándor Fa sails around the world in 93 days

Nemzetipsort.hu writes that Hungarian competitor Nándor Fa reached land in the 8^th place of Vendée Globe after three months of sailing. He crossed the finish line around 11 am on Wednesday in West France with his ship called Spirit of Hungary. The field started with 28 brave competitors, whose goal was to sail around the globe.

The 63-year-old Nándor Fa sailed around the Earth with his home developed Spirit of Hungary in 93 days, 22 hours and 52 minutes, which is his best time ever. Before the start he anticipated a 90-100 day journey.

“I thought that I will finish somewhere between the 10^th and 15^th places. My goal was to reach land in less than 100 days. My opponents were professional competitors with well-prepared ships. I wouldn’t have imagined that I could achieve a result like this at my age”

Several engine and smaller sailing-boats accompanied the ship for the last metres, which crossed the finish line in the midst of loud cheering of fans and experts. A huge Hungarian flag welcomed Nándor Fa with a Székesfehérvár (his hometown) caption in the middle.

The race was won by the French Armel Le Cléac’h who set a record with his time of 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds. The British Alex Thomson came in second after 74 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes, which is also better than the time – 78 days, 2 hours, 16 minutes – of the former recorder, Francois Gabart.

The field, which departed on the 6^th of November last year, originally included 29 ships, but 11 gave up in the meantime.

This was Nándor Fa’s third Vendée Globe, where the task was to sail around the globe with a 60 feet ship without boarding and external help. His best result can be connected to the 1992-93 season when he finished in the 5^th place, as the best non-French participant, after 128 days.

Congratulations to Nándor Fa, who is the oldest competitor ever to have sailed around Vendée Globe!

Photos: www.facebook.com/SpiritofHungaryOceanSailingProject

Copy editor: bm

Source: http://www.nemzetisport.hu/