Kito de Pavant (Bastide Otio)
Kito de Pavant discovered sailing as a child, when his father launched him on a tiny wooden sailboat built by his own hands, on the village's waterfront. A baroudeur and an atypical sailor, he has sailed on all the seas of the world, crossed the Atlantic a good fifty times in convoying (one of his first jobs) and in races.
He revealed himself in 2002, winning the Solitaire du Figaro in a magnificent manner, beating the Bretons. The southerner is one of those fast sailors, strategically inspired and always capable of winning on one or more hulls. His talent is unanimously recognized. Incredible bad luck caused him to retire from the two previous editions (2008 and 2012), but at 55 years old, the skipper intends to complete his round-the-world race and join the fight for his third consecutive victory e participation.
Jean Le Cam (Finistère Mer Vent)
"King Jean" gets his nickname from the time he dominated the Figaro circuit 20 years ago. He started sailing in the bay of Concarneau on the family Armagnac, which would later lead him to the highest level in the Figaro. Jean will win three times in the Solitaire du Figaro. This was followed by victories and podiums on everything that floats, with one or more hulls.
At 57 years old, by accumulating numerous exploits, Jean Le Cam has become a "face" of ocean racing in general and the Vendée Globe in particular thanks to his qualities as a sailor, his incredible adventures, but also his countless good words and videos. Legend has it that he was one of the few who dared to scold Eric Tabarly in person, following a capsize. The history of sailors will also remember that he found himself in distress at Cape Horn and was saved in incredible conditions by Vincent Riouâeuros¦ the same one who had deprived him of victory in the Vendée Globe four years earlier! To celebrate, the two survivors went on to win the 2013 Transat Jacques Vabre together. For his 4th e participation, it will still make the show!
Bertrand de Broc (MACSF)
At 56 years old, Bertrand de Broc is one of the great characters of the Vendée Globe. The man who discovered sailing by tacking a shark with his grandfather on the Odet River in the 1970s took part in his first Solitaire du Figaro at just 18 years old. He went on to compete at the highest level on all types of boats, with one or more hulls, winning numerous victories and epic podiums.
But the legend was truly born during the 1992-1993 edition of the Vendée Globe, where he injured his face and sewed his tongue back on by himself in the middle of the sea, guided by the race doctor, which earned him the nickname of "Rambo". With this experience behind him, he will attack this 4 e edition stronger than ever. Although he abandoned the Vendée Globe due to breakage in 1993 and 1996, he overcame the Indian sign in the last edition by taking 9th place.
Tanguy de Lamotte (Initiatives-C?ur)
The 38 year old skipper, originally from Versailles and from Brittany, drew his first tacks near Saint Malo before following a relatively classic cruising route. He discovered the Vendée Globe by assisting Ellen MacArthur during the 2000-2001 edition and then touched everything from large multihulls to tiny 6.50s. Passionate about technique, Tanguy is known for having built his own boats (he is a naval architect), notably his Mini 6.50, then the Class40 with which he won the first Solidaire du Chocolat.
During the last Vendée Globe, he was one of the public's favorites. On the one hand because he sails for a good cause by supporting Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, and on the other hand because he knows how to become an outstanding communicator, capable of bringing everyone on board through his videos, which are sometimes sensitive, sometimes hilarious. His goal for his 2 e participation: to sail around the world in less than 84 days, the time achieved by Michel Desjoyeaux in 2008-2009 on board an IMOCA60 identical to his new Initiatives Coeur.
Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée)
Ãeuros 31 years, Louis Burton will make his 2 e participation in the Vendée Globe. In 2012-2013, he was the youngest competitor and a rookie and saw his adventure come to an end after a collision with a trawler off the coast of Portugal. After an introduction to sailing on vacation, intensive regattas and solo convoying from the age of 18, the turning point came in 2010, when he took part in the Route du Rhum in Class40 with the support of Bureau Vallée.
After his collision, he bought an IMOCA60 in 2011 and made a place for himself in the circuit, despite the skepticism of some. Apart from the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe, he has finished all the races he has taken part in, including 1 Transat B to B, 3 Transat Jacques Vabre and 1 Route du Rhum. His goal: to finish the round-the-world race and finish first in the boats of the same generation as his Bureau Vallée.
Rich Wilson (Great American IV)
Ãeuros 66 years old, the dean of the 2016 edition will try his luck again for the 2 e times. He wishes to improve his time established 8 years ago (121 days) while carrying out a vast educational program with young people. A talented man, he has practiced many trades, but is also an emeritus sailor, who made his name in 1980 by winning the Newport-Bermuda race. In 1990, he decided to use sailing as an educational tool. His record attempt between San Francisco and Boston, aboard a 60-foot trimaran, ended in a capsize off Cape Horn.
He tried again three years later. This second attempt was a success followed by 300,000 children in the United States, but also millions of adults, his daily columns being picked up by major newspapers. Rich then broke two new records (New York-Melbourne and Hong Kong-New York) and finished 2nd in the English Transatlantic Race in 2004. In 2008, he tackled the Vendée Globe. In 2008, he tackled the Vendée Globe, aboard a monohull launched ten years earlier, and arrived after 121 days, once again relaying his adventure to as many people as possible.
Nandor Fa (Spirit of Hungary)
Nándor Fa was part of the second edition of the Vendée Globe in 1992, finishing in fifth place and opening the way to the finish line for foreign skippers. This 63-year-old Hungarian discovered sailing late in life, at the age of 27. Fascinated by Finn and Laser racing, he was integrated into the national team, and then began designing boats, dreaming of ocean crossings. While cruising near Cape Horn on the 31-foot boat he built, Nándor heard by chance on the Chilean radio that a solo round-the-world race with stopovers was passing by: the BOC Challenge. In a few minutes, he makes his decision, he will race around the world in 60 feet.
This is how he finished the 1991 BOC and then obtained 5th place in the Vendée Globe two years later with a boat he built. He came back four years later with his new boat Budapest, but had to give up. He then took a very long break from ocean racing, devoting himself to building pontoons. But the Vendée Globe never left his mind. He decided to try the adventure again during the 2016-2017 edition, for his 4th e participation, with an IMOCA 60' that he designed and built himself, of course.
Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline)
At 44 years old, Arnaud Boissières will participate in his 3rd e edition in a row. For his first participation, he won the 7 e he had taken place with an "old" boat with a fixed keel and had long held his own against the latest generation of machines. In 2013, aboard Akéna Vérandas, he did almost as well (8 e ) and once again he will be one of the public's favourites, both for his sporting talent and the joy of being at sea alone, which he knows how to transmit so well.
It was when he went to the pontoons of the Vendée Globe to welcome the returning skippers that his passion came. Once again, Arnaud Boissières struggled to find partners and prepare the boat with a reduced team.
