Jean Luc Van den Heede

In his 60th year and having sailed more offshore miles then most, Jean Luc Van den Heede (VDH) is a prime candidate for a Sailing Anarchy interview. He started sailing at 17 and by 20 was instructing.  He is best known for the “wrong way record” against the prevailing winds and currents.  Never say die, after three failed attempts, in March 2004, VDH took 29 days off the record. Not bad for a 59 year old!

Counting all the inevitable upwind sailing, this route is close to 50,000 miles.  “Twice the Distance “Four times the Suffering”. When he arrived back in his home port of Le Sables De O’lonne, President Chirac was on the phone offering his congratulations.

VDH’s CV includes second in the 1979 Mini Transat,2nd in the Route du Rhum (1998), 3rd in the ’95 BOC Challenge and 2nd in ’86, and a 2nd in the ‘92-’93 VENDEE Globe as well as a 3rd in ‘89-‘90. 

Who knows how many miles he has sailed, it’s in the hundreds of thousands. Earlier this year he smashed the around UK solo record.  Given the tides and very busy shipping lanes, this is one of the tougher solo challenges. Ever approachable, we recently caught up with VDH. Photos courtesy Sandrine Gelin.

Gimbaled Nav Station

Can you give us a quick run down of Adrien?

VDH
Adrien is built of aluminum. is 25.7 meters (85 feet), draft of   4.6 meters draft, and weighs 30 tons. She was designed by Gilles Vaton. Sails are by INCIDENCES et TAROT (spi lourd).  See website

You are best known for the East to West circumnavigation record and your determination to keep going with this record attempt despite having failed three times. What sailing have you done since then?

VDH
Two other records around Britain and Cowes Dinard. Now I want to cruise! A race in Azores last summer and a cruise in Iceland next summer.

Any idea of the total number of miles you have sailed?

VDH
Five times around the world, plus three attempts, several Transats. Who knows. Hundreds of thousands.

Adrien looks to be a very powerful boat for one person to sail. Can you give us an insight into how the boat has evolved and any of the more unusual features?

VDH
For me I think that it was a reasonable size for a 55 year old  (and now 60!) solo sailor.  One feature which works was is the gimbaled nav station, galley and bunk.  I think PRB also has a gimbaled interior. Given the amount of upwind sailing I have done this is a real bonus.

What are Adrien's good and bad points?

VDH
Very strong and fast upwind but not fast enough reaching and down wind.

Satellite Compass

Self steering is obviously key to solo sailing. Was Adrien's self steering bought as a package, or have you developed it? Can you give us a run down of the self-steering setup?

VDH
I have a push pull system from SIMRAD. A satellite compass very accurate 0,1° to drive the pilot

It looks like your professional sailing career really advanced when you were 2nd in the 1997 mini-transat.What advice do you have for aspiring mini-transat or Figaro sailors who are trying to get a campaign launched?

VDH
To always achieve a goal and to never withdraw.

Talk us through two days in your sailing career. The best day you ever had and the worst.

VDH
The best was my arriving in my last time around the world. The worst was when I awoke on a beach close to Sydney in the BOC.  I fell asleep in the cockpit some hours before my arriving.

How do we make sailing more accessible and get more kids to go sailing? Are there any special programs in France that could be used abroad?

VDH
I go sailing because I read a lot of books when I was young. The motivation in sailing is the dream of cruising or racing...

There is phenomenal interest in the Vendee in France which seems to transcend sailing. What is it about the Vendee and solo sailing that so captures the French public?

VDH
The DREAM...The mystery also of being around alone.

Rudder Assembly

Is anyone likely to go after your East to West record in the near future?

VDH
Maud Fontenoy is buying my boat to go around Antarctica East To West... It is shorter but she is going to do the hardest part!

What weather/navigation/routing packages do you use. Can you give us a quick run down of the strengths and weaknesses of the different packages?

VDH
I work with PIERRE LASNIER from METEOMER and have also MAXSEA

If you could arrange to spend the weekend sailing with any sailor, past or present, who would it be?

VDH
Cruising with Moitessier or racing with Helen MacArthur ... or the contrary!

If you could take any boat other than Adrien, which one and why?

VDH
I will build a new one IF!!!

What sailing plans do you have for the next year?