ACTUAL LEADER
Skipper: Yves Le Blévec
Mini 6.50, Figaro Bénéteau, Multi 50 and since 2015, Ultim, Yves le Bélévec has climbed the ladder to the Ultimate class. At his side, his loyal sponsor Actual has been following him since 2001. Solitary, crew or double, Yves is at ease in all conditions.
Coskipper: Alex Pella
"We had to find someone who had both solid experience on board the large multihulls and who integrated perfectly into the team. The Actual Leader team works on mutual trust and respect, this harmony must be preserved" explains Yves about his coskipper. "There's a lot of respect between us. We get along very well. We have the same approach to ocean racing. Yves is easy to live with when racing, because he has a lot of fun being at sea" confirms Alex Pella.
Alex Pella is no longer to be presented: Jules Verne Trophy (on IDEC), Volvo Ocean Race, a Route du Rhum winner in Class40, IMOCA, MOD, Multi 50 events... The Spanish skipper has a rich and eclectic career in the field of ocean racing.
Mediaman: Ronan Gladu
Ronan Gladu made a name for himself in the world of sliding by bringing us the experience of the surf expedition Lost in the Swell. Coming from a family of sailors, this Brest man, passionate about photography, is nevertheless more at ease on a board. But that doesn't mean he won't be out of touch on board this great "sailboat".
"Ronan knows how to give a human reading of what's happening on board. He's very motivated, it's going to be a beautiful and interesting expérience?! And I have no doubt in his ability to live the adventure well and work well... even under conditions a little bit râpeuses?!" explains Yves le Blévec.
MACIF
Skipper: François Gabart
Talented and immersed in the world of sailing since his early childhood, it is on the 2012 Vendée Globe that François Gabart is revealed to the general public. Since then, he has been one of the great names in ocean racing and has won (almost) everything he "touches"
Specialist in solo sailing, he has been sailing Ultimate since 2015 and has always been under the colours of Macif, his sponsor since 2009.
Co-skipper: Gwénolé Gahinet
Both navigator and naval architect, Gwénolé Gahinet is a true all-rounder of sailing: Mini, Figaro, IMOCA, Ultim, hydrofoil kite... He is also co-owner of the Jules Verne Trophy alongside Francis Joyon. This is what convinced François Gabart, who did not know him before. "Gweno has encountered all the problems of an Ultim. He held the helm for hours, alone on the deck at 40 knots." says François Gabart.
Mediaman: Jérémie Eloy
Former professional kitesurfer from 2002 to 2013, Jérémie Eloy has been converted since 2009 to the image. He then scoured the seas and oceans to look for the storm picture that would delight his sponsors. This is how a true passion is born. He then produced the web-series "Make my day" in which he explored the four corners of the planet.
"When I put the team together, I didn't try to make a duo of sailors with a mediaman, but I thought "trio". Jeremie will have a real role, while staying within the race rules. He will be involved in the human relations on board since he will spend time with Gweno and me, off shifts. It will bring balance, create atmosphere..."
MAXI EDMOND DE ROTSCHILD
On Gitana 17 (the trimaran's first name), the choice of the duo was not one, since unlike the other teams, there is not a single skipper at the helm of the multihull, but two.
Skipper: Franck Cammas
At 24, Franck won his first Solitaire du Figaro and a year later, in 1998, he took the helm of his first Groupama trimaran. Until 2010, he will be the skipper of three different maxi trimarans - still under Groupama's colours - and will win the Jules Verne Trophy in 2010. Technical adviser on the America's Cup, victory in the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race aboard the VOR 70 Groupama 4, the skipper varies the pleasures before joining the Gitana Team in duo with Charles Caudrelier in 2019.
"This race we've been waiting for it for six months, it's our first major sporting event as Edmond de Rothschild skippers and it's the main objective of the year so there's necessarily a little impatience with 10 days to go. Our technical strategy for the year was built around our participation in the Atlantic Brest. With Charles, there are expectations, we want to do things right from a sporting and technical point of view" explained the sailor.
Skipper: Charles Caudrelier
After several seasons in the Figaro and a victory in the Solitaire in 2004, he joined Franck Cammas' team a few years later. He is the router for the Route du Rhum 2010, which Franck Cammas won on Groupama 4. The following year, he joined the Cammas team in the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race, the edition will be won by the French. In 2014, he was appointed skipper of Dongfeng Team Race, a Franco-Chinese Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015. He repeated the operation in 2017-2018 and won the edition.
Mediaman: Yann Riou
An electronic engineer by training, he held this position for 8 years with the Groupama team. In parallel, he sailed on the Mini circuit from 2001 to 2010. It was only in 2011, when Groupama took part in the Volvo Ocean Race, that it discovered the world of on-board photography. He then becomes an onboard reporter. Since 2016, he has been in charge of Gitana's images.
SODEBO ULTIM'3
Skipper: Thomas Coville
Although he started in Mini 6.50, Thomas Coville is an all-rounder of the sea, having sailed the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race, but also the great records, especially in multihulls. This is his preferred support since he took over the helm of Sodebo in 1999. His specialty? Solo record hunting. He is also about to hunt down the Jules Verne Trophy.
Co-skipper: Jean-Luc Nélias
Jean-Luc Nélias is Thomas' loyal right-hand man. If we know him as a router he is also a great sailor, at ease in navigation as well as at the chart table. Since the Volvo Ocean Race won in 2013 aboard Groupama 4, the two men have forged a close relationship and form a duo that is often victorious.
Mediaman: Martin Keruzoré
It is thanks to his father that Martin Kéruzoré catches the image and sea virus. After his Parisian debut in cinema and advertising, he returned to the ocean via the Volvo Ocean Race 2017 as an onboard reporter. For 18 months, he shared the life of the winning team of the edition, Dongfeng Race Team.
"To accept to sail in Ultim, you don't have to be cold. Martin has the enthusiasm of this new generation that inspires me so much "confided the skipper. "As he is young, he adapts and integrates easily. This boy has unique skills and a strong personality. He has a mischievous character, humour and no mood. He will be one of the key elements of this race. We expect him to have a new look, like itchy hair. It will be part of our intimacy. But be careful, it's not the loft
