Jean-Luc Van Den Heede

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (born 8 June 1945 in Amiens) is a French sailor. He is best known for his achievements in single-handed sailing and set the current world-record for the westabout circumnavigation (he holds the overall record, i.e. although he sailed solo, nobody was faster on this route with a crewed boat).

He started sailing at the age of 17. In the Breton port city of Lorient he worked as a mathematics teacher. After 1989 he became a full-time sailor. Among sailors, he is also known by his initials VDH.

• 1977 : 2nd of the Mini Transat
• 1979 : 2nd of the Mini Transat
• 1986 : 2nd of the BOC Challenge on Let's Go
• 1990 : 3rd of the Vendée Globe on 3615 MET
• 1993 : 2nd of the Vendée Globe on Sofap Helvim
• 1993 : 4th of the Transat Jacques Vabre
• 1995 : 3rd of the BOC Challenge on Vendée Entreprises
• 1998 : 2nd of the Route du Rhum on Algimouss
• 2002 : Record crossing of the Channel aboard Adrien with Karen Leibovici
• 2004 : Record westabout circumnavigation in 122d 14h 3min 49s.