Fifteen boats left Southampton on 28 September 1985 for the fourth edition of the Whitbread Round the World Race.
L’Esprit d’Équipe, skippered by Lionel Péan, won the race in a corrected time of 111 days 23 hours. Philips Innovator was second, and Swan 651 Fazer Finland third. UBS Switzerland was named first on elapsed time, with Lion New Zealand as runner-up. Drum (carrying its owner, the pop star Simon Le Bon) finished just a behind.
