[2] In 2016, he became the first New Zealander to compete in the famous solo around-the-world race, the Vendée Globe.

[3][4][5] On 10 February 2017 Colman was in 10th place, 740 miles from the finish line (having completed 97% of the race's 27,440 nautical mile circumnavigation) when his IMOCA 60, the Foresight Natural Energy, was dismasted.

[6] Two weeks later he became the 3rd sailor in history to complete the Vendée Globe under jury rig, taking 16th place in the race with a time of just under 110 days 2 hours.

[4] Colman ran out of food after the dismasting, and completed the race on survival rations pillaged from his life raft.

[7] When he crossed the finish line, Colman became the first skipper to complete the Vendée Globe using no fossil fuels.