A look back at the career of the various winning boats in the Transat Jacques Vabre, both multihull and monohull.
1993 edition
This first edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre was the only one to be raced single-handed. In the multihull class, Paul Vatine won aboard the Région Haute-Normandie trimaran, an '88 Irens design. After a long career on the circuit at the time, it broke up during the Middle Sea Race 2019 and ended up in pieces on the coast of Libya.
In the monohull class, Yves Parlier's Cacolac d'Aquitaine came out on top. After dozens of transatlantic races and two Vendée Globes, the old 60-footer is used as a support vessel for public relations operations in Spain.
1995 Edition
This edition was again won by Paul Vatine, accompanied by Roland Jourdain, but on a different Irens design. It was also aboard his favourite trimaran that he died during the 1999 edition. Taken over by the Breton association "Rêves de sens", the trimaran, which has never set sail again, is currently being refitted for sailing off Lorient.
In monohull racing, it was the duo of Jean Maurel and Fred Dahirel, aboard the 60-foot Côte d'Or, who won in 1995. After a chequered career, this monohull was refitted for fast cruising. At the time of going online, it is currently for sale in Brittany for ?490,000.
1997 Edition
In multihull racing, the Bourgnon brothers, Laurent and Yvan, were the first to arrive in Cartagena in 1997, aboard the ORMA Primagaz. After many more transatlantic victories, the trimaran is now enjoying a charter career in the West Indies, where she has been for sale for ?500,000 since 2021.
In the monohull class, Yves Parlier wins again, this time accompanied by Eric Tabarly, aboard Aquitaine Innovations. After a career rich in victories, the IMOCA is converted into an onshore communications support for the Initiatives C?ur team.
1999 Edition
In 1999, Loïck Peyron and Franck Profit won the multihull Irens Fujicolor 2. This trimaran, which has won everything, is currently sailing in the Nordic countries, on the local regatta circuit.
In monohull racing, Thomas Coville and Hervé Jean win on the IMOCA Sodebo. The boat went on to take part in several Vendée Globe and transatlantic races. In 2016, this Finot design was scuttled in obscure conditions by the British crew of Richard Tolkien in the middle of the Atlantic. The remains of the wreck would wash up in the West Indies years later.
Edition 2001
Franck Cammas and Stève Ravussin won in 2001 aboard the Groupama multihull. After a second victory with the same crew in 2003, the VPLP design enjoyed a long career in the Nordic countries. The ORMA trimaran has since been taken over by a team from Guadeloupe, who are restoring her in Marseille, and hope to line her up at the start of the Route du Rhum 2026.
In the monohull class, Roland Jourdain and Gaël Le Cléac'h won on Sill. In 2006, the yacht was abandoned by Alex Thomson 80 miles from Cape Horn, and ended up dislocated on a Patagonian beach.
Edition 2003
While the Groupama crew did it again in 2003 on their trimaran, Jean-Pierre Dick and Nicolas Abiven were victorious on the IMOCA Virbac. After a second race victory in 2005, it ran aground on the Kerguelen rocks during the 2009 Vendée Globe, before disappearing in a fire at its storage site on Reunion Island.
Edition 2005
Pascal Bidégorry and Lionel Lemonchois were victorious on ORMA Banque Populaire IV in 2005. After a short career on the circuit, the trimaran was sold in 2008 and has since been sailing in South-East Asia. Jean-Pierre Dick and Nicolas Abiven won the event again in 2005.
Edition 2007
Franck Cammas and Stève Ravussin win Groupama 2 in the last edition before the ORMA class is disbanded in 2007. The VPLP was found capsized in 2023 off Panama. Her skipper, Donald Lawson, was never found.
In the monohull class, it's the duo of Michel Desjoyeaux and Emmanuel Le Borgne on the Farr Foncia. This IMOCA is still active, as it is being prepared for the Vendée Globe 2024, with Violette Dorange at the helm.
2009 Edition
In the monohull class, Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier on Safran in 2009. Since 2018, the IMOCA has been skippered by Isabelle Joschke, who is preparing for the Vendée Globe 2024, after equipping her with foils.
In the multihull class, in the absence of Orma, Franck-Yves Escoffier and Erwan Le Roux on the Multi 50 Crêpes Whaou won. The trimaran in West System will end up cut up on a quay in Aber Wrach.
2011 Edition
Jean-Pierre Dick and Jérémie Beyou win aboard the IMOCA Virbac Paprec 3 in 2011. The VPLP-Verdier design will be taken over by Kito De Pavant, who will abandon it in the middle of the Indian Ocean during the 2016 Vendée Globe, when the keel breaks. The remains of the wreck will be found on the east coast of Madagascar.
In the multihull class, Yves Le Blevec and Samuel Manuard win on the 50-foot Actual. In 2023, this trimaran is taken over by Luke Berry to race on the Ocean Fifty circuit.
Edition 2013
Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier arrived first on the MOD 70 Edmond de Rothschild in 2013, signing the return of the big multihulls. Since 2016, the 70-foot trimaran has been racing in offshore regattas under the Maserati colors.
In the IMOCA class, it's Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam on PRB the winner. The boat was again the winner of the 2015 edition, with Sebastien Col as co-skipper. The 60-footer was then wrecked during the 2020 Vendée Globe, after bending in two in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Skipper Kevin Escoffier was rescued by Jean Le Cam after a night in his raft.
Edition 2015
François Gabart and Pascal Bidégorry, on the trimaran Macif, win this first edition with an Ultim category in 2015. It went on to win the 2016 English Transat, and set a new solo world record in 2017. In 2023, this multihull will race under Actual's colors, with Anthony Marchand as skipper.
Edition 2017
Thomas Coville and Jean-Luc Nelias arrive first in Brazil in 2017 aboard Sodebo Ultim . The trimaran has since been taken over by Eric Peron, who will line up on the Arkéa Ultim Challenge in early 2024.
In the monohull class, Jean-Pierre Dick and Yann Eliès win on St-Michel-Virbac . Since 2019, the IMOCA has been skippered by Italian Giancarlo Pedote, and is set to line up in the 2024 Vendée Globe.
2019 Edition
No Ultim class on this 2019 edition, so it was Gilles Lamiré and Antoine Carpentier on Groupe GCA - Mille et un sourires who won in the 50-foot multihull class. The Ocean Fifty was taken over in 2023 by skipper Christopher Pratt, who based it in Marseille.
In monohulls, Charlie Dalin and Yann Eliès on Apivia are the winners. This particularly high-performance Verdier design was sold in March 2023 to Alex Thomson, who leases it to Clarisse Crémer, sponsored by L'Occitane en Provence.
Edition 2021
Sébastien Rogues and Matthieu Souben on Ocean Fifty Primonial are the first to arrive in Martinique. This 2009 Verdier design, a two-time winner, will be back at the start of the 2023 edition with Luke Berry and Antoine Joubert.
Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild arrive first in the Ultim class in Fort de France in 2021. The trimaran, which went on to win the Route du Rhum 2022, is still run by the Gitana stable.
In monohulls, Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière on Linked Out win. In 2023, this IMOCA has been handed over to Sam Goodchild in preparation for the 2024 Vendée Globe.
