What happened to the yachts that won the Transat Café l'OR, ex-Jacques Vabre?

Launched in 1993, the Transat Jacques Vabre takes place every two years from Le Havre. Whether 60-foot monohulls or multihulls, what has become of the yachts that won the famous double-handed event? Between shipwrecks, conversion to cruising or regattas in the antipodes, the fates of these former glories are very varied.

Here's a look back at the Transat Jacques Vabre's winning boats, 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.

Cacolac, avec Yves Parlier à la barre
Cacolac, with Yves Parlier at the helm

In the monohull class, it's the Cacolac d'Aquitaine, skippered by Yves Parlier, that comes 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.

Edition 1997

Le trimaran Primagaz
The Primagaz trimaran

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, has sailed in the Nordic countries, on the local regatta circuit. It is currently parked at Port Navy Services, where it is available for sale.

In the monohull class, 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, having raced in the Vendée Globe 2024, with Violette Dorange at the helm.

2009 Edition

In the monohull class, Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier on Safran who won in 2009. Since 2018, the IMOCA has been skippered by Isabelle Joschke, who completed 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 spending the night in his raft.

Edition 2015

Le trimaran Macif
The Macif trimaran

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. From 2023 to 2025, this multihull raced under the Actual colors with Anthony Marchand as skipper.

Edition 2017

Thomas Coville and Jean-Luc Nelias were the first to arrive in Brazil in 2017 aboard Sodebo Ultim . The trimaran has since been taken over by Guirec Soudé, who will attempt to beat the round-the-world record upside down.

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, who raced 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 by the Sodebo team in 2025, with a view to participating in the Route du Rhum 2026.

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, was taken over by Anthony Marchand under the Actual umbrella.

In monohulls, Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière on Linked Out win. In 2023, this IMOCA was handed over to Sam Goodchild, who raced in the Vendée Globe 2024.

Edition 2023

In the Ultim class, Armel Le Cleac'h and Sébastien Josse take the top step of the podium aboard Banque Populaire XI. The trimaran will once again be at the start of the 2025 edition, where her title will be up for grabs.

©Pierrick Contin
©Pierrick Contin

In Ocean Fifty, it's Quentin Vlamynk & Thibaut Vauchel-Camus win on Solidaire en Peloton. The boat will be back at the start of the 2025 edition with the same skipper, assisted by Damien Seguin.

In the IMOCA class, Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière win aboard For People, a Verdier design launched in 2023. After finishing 7th in the Vendée Globe 2024, the boat will be skippered by Ambrogio Beccaria, assisted by Thomas Ruyant, for the 2025 edition.

In Class 40, Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu won on Alla Grande Pirelli. The boat has since been taken over by Pep Costa, who will start under the VSF Sports colors, assisted by Pablo Santurde Del Arco.

Jean-Marie Liot
Jean-Marie Liot
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