True to its tradition of hosting world-famous sailors, the town of Les Sables d'Olonne in France, the global capital of single-handed ocean racing, is now home to the International Association of Cape Horners Cape Horn Hall of Fame.
Les Sables d’Olonne witnessed the induction of six new names to its honours board during the opening of a new clubhouse dedicated to the history of this most famous of all Capes and the sailors who have rounded it.
Organised by the International Association of Cape Horners (IACH), Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, President of the Association, and Yannick Moreau, The Mayor of Les Sables d’Olonne, announced the six new celebrity Cape Horners.
- Dame Ellen MacArthur – UK
- Grant Dalton – New Zealand
- Skip Novak – USA
- Jeanne Socrates – UK
- Franck Cammas – France
- Michel Desjoyeaux – France
Between them, they have 24 circumnavigations – all of them via Cape Horn - and have set nine world records.
The awards were held in the Mini-Transat race village within Les Sables d’Olonne where 90 solo sailors will set out on the first stage of their 3,000-mile chase across the Atlantic to Guadalupe on Sunday in their 6.5m yachts. Many of the names short-listed for this year’s awards first cut their ocean racing teeth in this class, including Dame Ellen MacArthur and Michel Desjoyeaux. As Sir Robin Knox-Johnston pointed out: “From little acorns, mighty oaks grow. Some of those taking part in this year’s Mini-Transat Race will become the sailing super stars of the future.”
2023 IACH Cape Horn Hall of Fame inductees
Dame Ellen MacArthur – UK
2-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn • 1998: Awarded the YJA British Yachtsman of The Year and Sailing's Young Hope title in France. •2000/1: Vendee Globe Race 2nd in 60ft Kingfisher • 2001: appointed a Member or the Order of the British Empire (MBE) • 2005: Broke the solo non-stop circumnavigation record in 75ft trimaran B&Q/Castorama • 2005: made a Dame Commander of the Order of the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), the youngest recipient of this honour.
Seven-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn, Grant Dalton – NZ Photo: Barry Pickthall PPL
Grant Dalton – NZ
7-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn. • 1981/2 Whitbread Round the World race in Flyer II skippered by Cornelis van Rietschoten. winner on handicap and elapsed time. Role: onboard sailmaker • 1985/6 Whitbread Round the World race in Lion New Zealand skippered by Peter Blake. role: watch leader • 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World race in Fisher & Paykel. 2nd in Maxi class -role: skipper • 1993/4 Whitbread Round the World race in New Zealand Endeavour. winner of the maxi Class. Role: skipper • 1997/8 Volvo Ocean Race. Merit Cup. Role: Skipper • 2001/ Volvo Ocean Race. Amer Sports One. Role: Skipper • Grant then won The Race, a non-stop sprint around the world skippering the maxi catamaran Club Med. The race started from Barcelona on 1 January 2001 and finished in in Marseilles on 3 March. Club Med broke several records including the distance sailed in 24 hours (656 nautical miles) and the fastest circumnavigation (62 days and 7h).
Five-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn, Skip Novak of the USA Photo: Skip Novak PPL
Skip Novak – USA
5-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn. • 1977/8 Whitbread, Kings Legend, - Role: Navigator • 1981/2 Whitbread - Alaska Eagle, - Role: skipper • 1985/6 Whitbread - Drum - skipper. - Role: skipper •1989/90 Whitbread - Fazisi, - Role: skipper • The Race in 2001 –co-skipper multihull Innovation Explorer – 2nd. • Founder of Pelagic Expeditions • Winner of the 2014 Cruising Club of America Blue Water Medal
Three-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn, Jeanne Socrates of the UK Photo: Jean Socrates PPL
Jeanne Socrates – UK
3-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn 2009-12: Solo circumnavigation from UK to Canada via South Africa, New Zealand, Canada (Victoria, B.C.) , Cape Horn, S. Africa, Hobart (Tasmania), Tahiti, Hawaii, Victoria B.C. - one-and-a-half times around the world via Cape Horn, Good Hope (twice) & Leeuwin (twice) · 2013: The first woman to complete solo non stop circumnavigation from North America and at 71, the oldest woman to sail solo non stop around the world. aboard the 38-foot Najad 380 cruising yacht Nereida,· 2019: At 77, the oldest person to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation around the 5 Great Capes. · 2013: awarded the Cruising Club of America Blue Water Medal and the Royal Cruising Club's Medal for Seamanship
Three-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn, Michel Desjoyeaux of France PPL Photo Agency
Michel Desjoyeaux - France
3-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn • 1985/5: Whitbread Round the World Race aboard Belgian maxi yacht Cote d’Or, 4th.• 2000/1: Vendée Globe solo non-stop round the world race aboard IMOCA 60 PRB 1st 93days 3hrs 57mins • 2008/9: Vendée Globe solo non-stop round the world race aboard IMOCA 60 Fonica 1st 84days 03hrs 9mins
Four-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn, Franck Cammas of France Photo: PPL
Franck Cammas – France
4-time circumnavigator via Cape Horn • 2005: Jules Verne Trophy.catamaran Orange II skippered by Bruno Peron. Role: crew. Set a non-stop circumnavigation record of 50 days 16 hrs 20 mins, 4 secs • 2010: Jules Verne Trophy. trimaran Groupama 3. Role: skipper. Set a non-stop circumnavigation record of 48 days 7 hrs 44 mins, 52 secs • 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race. Groupama 4 – winner on elapsed time. Role: Skipper • 2022/3 Ocean Race: IMOCA 60 11th Hour Racing. winner. Role: crew
The Honours Board is now housed in the new Cape Horn Hall of Fame Clubhouse in Les Sables d’Olonne, along with memorabilia and history of those who have rounded the Cape. The first pilgrim to visit this shrine to famous sailors past and present, was Kit Villiers, the son of Alan Villiers, one of the last to sail aboard the commercial clipper ships who went on to write books and make films of his adventures.
