A dream come true

Emotions were running high when we bid farewell to Denis on 10 November 2024. He set sail aboard his IMOCA D’Ieteren Group to do battle with the Everest of the Seas for the very first time.
After nearly 4 months of racing, today he completed the crazy challenge he first began preparing for some 6 years ago with his trusty team of volunteers. Remaining dockside for the previous edition, the skipper has demonstrated that great tenacity, courage and passion make it possible to fulfil the greatest dreams. These same values are perfectly reflected in those of D’Ieteren Group, which has been supporting Denis since 2023.
“A huge congratulations to Denis Van Weynbergh, our Belgian skipper, upon his arrival in Les Sables d’Olonnes today after his Vendée Globe tour of the world. We are extremely proud of Denis and the incredible journey he has undertaken. It was a long and challenging adventure, but like any human experience, it has been rich in lessons. For us at D’Ieteren Group, the project has primarily been aimed at sharing a number of core values with all the people in the Group: values of courage and resilience, which Denis embodies with exemplary strength and determination. His accomplishments have been a powerful testimony and a true source of inspiration for the Group’s employees and for everyone who followed him throughout the race” said D’Ieteren Group’s Spokesperson.

A symbol of resilience

Despite the difficulties encountered during his Vendée Globe, Denis has shown great patience and resilience throughout his adventure.
Aware of just how lucky he has been to get the chance to realise his dream, spectators have rarely seen him without a smile and his sense of humour. Despite this, the skipper of D’Ieteren Group has faced up to storms, bitter cold, stifling heat, solitude and the technical challenges inherent in such a demanding race.
On his return to the North Atlantic, these unforeseen complications took on a new twist to the south of the Azores archipelago when the mainsail loop snapped, a key element for keeping the sail attached and hoisted. Denis is forced to ease off the pace to begin effecting repairs. Unfortunately, these repairs fail on the night of 26 February through into 27 February. The IMOCA D’Ieteren Group is then forced to make headway at a reduced pace under headsail alone, severely delaying the skipper’s arrival in Les Sables d’Olonne. Any remaining hope of finishing within the time limit fades, the closure of the Vendée Globe finish line being set at Friday 7 March at 08:00 hours.
In this way, Denis completes his journey around the world without appearing in the final ranking and he is considered to be an unofficial finisher. However, he has still proven that resilience is a strength, that every mile covered is a victory and that the most important takeaway from this race is not solely how one ranks, rather it is the path travelled.

An emotional finish

As one might imagine, the sailor was very moved this morning as he made his way back up the canal and rekindled his ties with his nearest and dearest.
It was the chance for the hoards of spectators to celebrate the Belgian’s success in a joyous, good-humoured atmosphere! Indeed, it is a moment that every one of the participants will likely remember for a very long time. And today, despite a finish time that meant he could not be official ranked, Denis is not only a sailor who has sailed right around the world: he is a man who has realised his dream.

Denis Van Weynbergh :

“I'm still on cloud nine, but I'm starting to feel a bit tired. On November 11, I wasn't being smart: I was setting off on a solo, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world voyage lasting a hundred days. In any case, you have no choice but to set off! At first you know the route: the equator, Brazil and then you discover the South Seas. You learn something new every day. You're impressed, sometimes stressed. You've got to keep the boat moving, because if you want to get there, you've got to get there, and you're learning every day. Beyond sailing, you discover a lot about yourself. I've never cried so much or had so many nervous breakdowns. I wanted to do a Vendée Globe like a good father, I didn't want to go into very risky areas. That was my way of sailing, and I'll do it again.
I was lucky enough to meet the D'Ieteren Group, a big Belgian company. They've never sponsored anything, they're very discreet, they're a family holding company. They were won over by our values and decided to get involved. Thanks to them, I've got a budget that allows me to operate, buy sails, electronics, take part in races...
It's been a long road to get to the start of the Vendée Globe and now 117 days to the finish.”

> Relive the IMOCA D’Ieteren Group’s arrival here

Key figures and information
1st Vendée Globe for Denis Van Weynbergh and D’Ieteren Group
Course: 24,300 miles or 45,000 km
Days spent at sea: 117
Closure date for the finish line: 7 March at 07:00 UTC