LES SABLES D'OLONNE, France — French skipper Michel Desjoyeaux won the Vendee Globe solo around-the-world yacht race after more than 80 days battling rough seas and high winds.

Desjoyeaux steered his Foncia yacht into port on the west coast of France with a huge lead over Roland Jourdain of France, who is several days behind in second place on Veolia Environnement.

The grueling event forced more than half of the 30-strong field to abandon the race, including defending champion Vincent Riou.

The 43-year-old Desjoyeaux also won the event eight years ago.

Approaching land, Desjoyeaux stood on deck and leaned against his mast and then pumped his fists in the air.

Desjoyeaux, who was flanked by speedboats as he arrived, adds a second Vendee Globe to other prestigious wins. He won the Solitaire du Figaro in 1992, 1998 and 2007, the Route du Rhum in 2002, and the single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race in 2004.

Jourdain and 10 other skippers have yet to finish the race.