A child's dream turned into a major project
Originally from Lozère, far from the shores of the sea, Mathieu Claveau discovered sailing through the 1996 Vendée Globe and the exploits of Yves Parlier. At 36, this aeronautical engineer and ocean racing enthusiast is embarking on an ambitious adventure: to take part in the 2028 Vendée Globe with a revolutionary boat, an IMOCA built largely from wood.
The project, which started in 2019, is part of an ecological transition and sustainability approach, while seeking to offer competitive performance. " Supporting this project means embarking on an adventure that advocates a greener future for ocean racing "explains the skipper.
A wooden IMOCA: a technological and ecological challenge
The boat, designed in collaboration with architect Gildas Plessis, is based on an innovative vision: to put wood, a historic shipbuilding material, back at the heart of competition boats. The aim is twofold: to reduce environmental impact and offer a less expensive alternative to full-carbon monohulls.
While some parts, such as critical structural elements, will remain in carbon for safety and performance reasons, a large proportion of the IMOCA will be built in wood. This material, sourced from sustainably managed forests, will be supplied as part of the partnership with the Plantons pour l'avenir endowment fund, of which Mathieu is an ambassador.
" Nearly 50% of the design has already been completed, but the structural study remains to be finalized "says the skipper. Once the financing has been secured, construction of the boat will begin in 2025, with the aim of being ready for the Route du Rhum 2026 and the Vendée Globe 2028.
A close-knit team for an innovative project
To make this project a reality, 5 million euros are needed. Mathieu Claveau and his team are actively seeking financial backing to make this IMOCA a reality. The skipper sees the project as an opportunity to raise corporate and public awareness of environmental issues, while demonstrating that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand with sporting performance.
Mathieu Claveau can count on a committed team around him, including experts in communications, marketing and project management. Their ambition is to federate a network of partners ready to invest in a more environmentally-friendly race.
At the same time, the skipper plans to develop educational and awareness-raising initiatives around the ecological transition in sailing, with the ambition of becoming an example to follow in the field of ocean racing.
