Intro:

Francois Gabart crossed the Vendee Globe finish line aboard MACIF off the coast of Les Sables-d'Olonne in France.

He won the gruelling round-the-world single-handed yacht race in a time of 78 days, two hours, 16 minutes and 40 seconds to set a new solo round-the-world record.

Script:

After a journey of over 28,000 nautical miles, the finish of the 2013 Vendee Globe Race finally emerged into view off the coast of France - for one man at least - on Sunday.

Francois Gabart on board Macif crossed the line off the coast of Les Sables-d-Olonne in Vendee in early afternoon on a squally day.

He set a new new best time for the gruelling round-the-world single-handed yacht race of 78 days, two hours, 16 minutes and 40 seconds.

That saw Gabart shatter Michel Desjoyeaux's existing record by six days and 53 minutes.

When he crossed the equator line on January 15th, he was already more than five days quicker than Desjoyeaux in 2009.

Gabart's average speed was 15.3 knots and he covered a total of 28,646.55 miles.

The 29-year-old was the youngest skipper competing in the seventh edition of the race - and was largely seen as a rank outsider before the fleet set sail.

Armel Le Cleac'h on board Banque Populaire crossed the finish line with a total time of 78 days, five hours and 33 minutes to claim second place.

This was another first for the race - as the smallest gap between the winner and the second boat home in Vendee Globe history, with a mere three hours, 17 minutes and 12 seconds separated the pair.

The previous record was six hours and 33 minutes, between winner Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam in 2005.