Crémer fastest female finisher of Vendee Globe sailing race

LES SABLES-D’OLONNE, France (AP) — Clarisse Crémer crossed the line Wednesday as the first woman to finish this edition of the Vendee Globe solo round-the-world race, placing 12th overall in what could be a record time for a female sailor.

Race organizers said the French sailor’s overall time of 87 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes and 25 seconds aboard Mono Banque Populaire X would be the fastest solo circumnavigation by a woman in a monohull if ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. The previous fastest time was set by Ellen MacArthur of Britain, who finished second in 2001 after sailing for more than 94 days.

Crémer sailed into Les Sables-d’Olonne on France’s Atlantic coast nearly seven days behind the winner, Yannick Bestaven. It was her first solo circumnavigation.

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