The skippers
François Gabart discovered sailing at a very young age during a year at sea with his family. At the age of 7, during a stopover in the United States punctuating this sabbatical year, he discovered the Optimist. After his return to France, he got a taste for sailing and started his first regattas. He quickly won victories and obtained the title of French Optimist Champion in 1997. Two years later, he won the Moth Europe Singlehanded Dinghy title.
He pursued racing in parallel with his studies throughout his adolescence. After his baccalaureate, he studied engineering at the INSA in Lyon and continued to compete in Tornado. For six years, he raced all over Europe with the French Olympic Sailing Team, to win the title of World Champion for young Tornado sailors in 2004.
In 2006, he joined the Figaro circuit, where he proved to be one of the most gifted skippers of his generation. In 2009, he joined the Skipper Macif selection and continued to make his mark on the Figaro Bénéteau world. In 2010, at the end of a season in which he accumulated podiums, he was crowned French Single-handed Ocean Racing Champion.
In 2011, François Gabart, who is at the same time skipper, engineer and competitor, takes the helm of his Imoca prototype, which he has developed and learned to use to its full potential, in collaboration with Michel Desjoyeaux. It was then that he revealed his full potential in single-handed racing and won a series of races: the Transat B to B and above all the Vendée Globe, which he completed in just 78 days. Two records in one, he became the youngest skipper to win the race and set the fastest time. The last year of the program will end with a great victory in the Route du Rhum.
Having achieved his first successes in 1994, 20 years later he is embarking on a new project. A new adventure is beginning for François Gabart, on the brand new trimaran Macif. ( Discover the boat )
Pascal Bidégorry is a Basque skipper with a passion for the mountains and skiing, yet it was to sailing that he chose to turn. But he discovered sailing at the age of 26. However, today he is 47 years old and is one of the most talented skippers of his generation with a record of achievements as long as the arm. Numerous victories - Transat Jacques Vabre, Solitaire du Figaro, Armen Race, Grand Prix Guyader, Spi Ouest Franceâeuros¦ Numerous records, notably in 2009: holder of the record for the distance covered in 24 hours under sail, holder of the record for the North Atlantic crossing under crewed sail, world champion of the Oceanic Records on maxi Banque-Populaire.
Today, he has won almost everything on a sailboat, in monohull or multihull, solo or with a crew. He is a reference in the multihull world.
After a third place overall in the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race, with Dongreng Race Team, he joins the Macif team for this new challenge in the Transat Jacques Vabre. His skills in terms of weather and navigation strategy will enable him to optimize the boat's capabilities and accompany François Gabart on this first race aboard the new Macif trimaran.
The boat
Technical specifications
| Class | Ultimate |
| Sail number | 301 |
| Length | 30 m |
| Width | 21 m |
| Home port | Port-La-Forêt |
| Architect | VPLP |
| Job site (manufacturer) | CDK/Multiplast |
| Year of launch | 2015 |
| Upwind sail area | 430 m2 |
| Sail area downwind | 650 m2 |
| Source of energy production on board | Alternator and solar panels |
