Jean-Luc Van Den Heede made it. He and his yacht have sailed non-stop all the way around the world!

The 30,000-mile Golden Globe Race started last July with 17 competitors. Mr. Van Den Heede has spent 212 days and 23 hours alone at sea. He is 73 years old—the oldest person ever to complete a solo, non-stop, round-the-world race. As he arrives in western France, people gather in the freezing weather to cheer him on. Mr. Van Den Heede comes from the town he sails into: Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. He is a local hero!

Sailors in this year’s Golden Globe Race couldn’t use much modern technology. They had to use paper maps and sextants to navigate, like in the first Golden Globe Race 50 years ago. They talked to others using short-wave radio only occasionally.

Mr. Van Den Heede has sailed around the world six times. Will he ever do it again? He doesn’t think so. He led the race for almost the whole time. And he finished over 300 miles ahead of the 2nd-place contender. But the journey was not easy. In November, rough weather damaged his yacht. To keep it sailing, Mr. Van Den Heede had to climb the boat’s mast seven times. He says he is too old for that! And now that he is home, he says he wants a bath and a steak.

A man named Mark Slats is the runner-up in the race. He should finish on February 1. Like Mr. Van Den Heede, Mr. Slats is eager to get home . . . and he’s hungry!

French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, 73, right, stands aboard his yacht on January 29. He is congratulated by legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston of Britain, who was the first person ever to sail solo, non-stop, around the world. (AP Photo)