The skippers
Thomas Ruyant is a skipper from Dunkerque who won the Transat 6.50 and the Route du Rhum. We could see him on several supports: Farr 30, Mumm 30, Mini 6.50, Figaro or Class40. In 2009, he won the Transat 6.50 between La Rochelle and Salvador de Bahia and in 2010 the Route du Rhum, in the class40 category on board La Banque Postale.
It is thanks to these two victories that Thomas Ruyant has made a name for himself among sailors. In recent years, he has also won numerous pre-season races in Mini 6.50 and Class40. Since then, Thomas Ruyant has participated in the Transat Jacques Vabre
Adrien Hardy he started sailing at the age of 7 in Optimist, on the banks of the Erdre river in Nantes and quickly competed in the world championships. At the age of 15, he continued in light sailing and chose the 420, winning the French and European 420 championships the same year.
After a short passage through the Match-Racing, Adrien Hardy started in the Mini 6.50 series in 2004 and for four years. He obtains good results and achieves an exceptional Mini Transat 2007 - he succeeds in the feat of remaking alone his 6.50 in the middle of the Atlantic to finish the race in sixth position âeuros make him an excellent regatta doubled by a great sailor.
The following year, he made his debut in the Figaro Bénéteau. He was ranked 2 ème Bizuth of his first Solitaire du Figaro and 1 er bizuth of the French offshore racing championship. In 2010, he won the 3 eme stage of the Solitaire du Figaro between Brest and Kinsale and prevented Armel le Cléac'h from winning all 4 stages.
Curious about the different types of ocean racing, he immersed himself in Class40. He won the Solidaire du Chocolat in 2009. Since 2012, he regularly finishes on the podiums of the French Ocean Racing Championship races when he does not win the events (Generali Solo, Lorient Horta Solo, stages of the Solitaire du Figaroâeuros¦). In 2014, he won the title of vice-champion of France in ocean racing. He also won the Lorient Horta Solo and finished winner of the 4 eme stage of the Solitaire du Figaro.
The boat
Designed by VPLP and Guillaume Verdier, IMAGINE is one of the forerunners of this new generation of lightweight, planing and easy to handle single-handed boats. With steering wheels, fixed rudders and a comfortable cockpit, the aim was to have a boat that was fine at the helm, versatile depending on the conditions and as "livable" as possible.
Technical specifications
| Class | Imoca |
| Sail number | ENG 121 |
| Architect | Cabinet Van Peteghem - Lauriot Prévost & Guillaume Verdier |
| Job site | Indiana Yachting (Scarlino, Italy) |
| Year of launch | 2007 |
| Length | 18,28 m |
| Width | 5,50 m |
| Draft | 4,50 m |
| Displacement (weight) | 7.7 tons |
| Number of drifts | 2 |
| Height matte | 28 m |
| Keel sail | Carbon |
| Upwind sail area | 365 m2 |
| Sail area downwind | 665 m2 |
| Home port | Lorient |
| Source of energy production on board | Alternator and Hydrogenerator |
Awards
| Race | Skippers | Running time | Ranking |
| Rolex Fastnet Race (16/08/2015) | Thomas Ruyant & Adrien Hardy | 4 | |
| Route du Rhum (02/11/2014) | Armel Tripon | 13d 14h 4' 4'' | 4 |
| Vendée Globe 2012-2013 (10/11/2012) | Kito de Pavant | TDR | |
| Europa Warm'Up (19/05/2012) | Kito de Pavant | TDR | |
| Transat Jacques Vabre 2011 (30/10/2011) | Kito de Pavant | 5 | |
| Barcelona World Race (31/12/2010) | Kito de Pavant | TDR | |
| Route du Rhum (31/10/2010) | Kito de Pavant | TDR |
