Naval officer turned ocean racer
Born on July 24, 1931 in Nantes, France, Eric Tabarly sailed from an early age on Annie, the family's first boat, then Pen Duick, the sailboat and name inseparable from the Breton sailor. He joined the French navy and air force in 1952, but the institution soon gave him time to sail and wear France's colors in regattas. He finally left the Navy in 1985, becoming a full-time ocean racer.
Memorable races and innovations
The first race to make him famous, the tabarly's victory in the 1964 English Transat aboard Pen Duick II is a milestone. He went on to enjoy a succession of successes and setbacks, aboard successive Pen Duick boats, up to Pen Duick VI, and a number of multihulls such as the Paul Ricard trimaran. His boats were also an opportunity to innovate on numerous occasions. He died at sea on June 12, 1998, aboard Pen Duick.
Over the years, the skipper trained many sailors and left his mark on all those who came into contact with him, from Gérard Petitpas to Yann Queffélec, as well as publishing books such as his maneuvering guide, illustrated by his pupil Titouan Lamazou.
Take a look at our dossier to find out more about this key figure in yachting.
