A 100% Paprec IMOCA for a campaign mastered from start to finish
By announcing the creation of Team Paprec and the construction of a new IMOCA, the group is taking a step forward. Gone are the days of co-partnerships: this time, Paprec is managing the entire project on its own, from sporting strategy through to the boat's launch, scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. The move, unprecedented for the sponsor, underlines a desire to capitalize on eight years of collaboration with Yoann Richomme and to optimize the feedback from over 50,000 miles of racing.
By 2026, Yoann Richomme's current IMOCA will be flying the MACSF colors.
This same boat, which finished second in the last Vendée Globe, will be entrusted to skipper Corentin Horeau. The latter will begin his campaign as Richomme's co-skipper on the Transat Café l'Or in 2025, before taking full command of the boat the following year. "Doing the Vendée Globe is one of my big dreams, and I'm very happy to be joining the Voile MACSF team with this goal in mind," explains the sailor. This handover will enable the future MACSF skipper to gradually build up his skills, while preserving the boat's potential.
Architectural choices: continuity and break with the Koch / Finot-Conq / GSea tandem
The future IMOCA will be designed by Antoine Koch, in association with the Finot-Conq firm and the naval structure experts at GSea Design. Continuity with the previous Paprec-Arkéa, but with a marked reengineering approach: cockpit, onboard systems and hull will be reviewed to improve performance, ergonomics and reliability. The design incorporates lessons learned from Richomme's last circumnavigation of the globe, finishing second in the Vendée Globe 2024-2025.
Multiplast in Vannes: high-precision construction in Brittany
The Multiplast yard in Vannes will be responsible for building the new IMOCA. The tooling phase will begin in August 2025, followed by the start of assembly in November. Decking is scheduled for September 2026, with a launch in the first quarter of 2027. This very precise timetable bears witness to rigorous planning. This industrial choice, anchored in Brittany, also reinforces the territorial dimension of the project.
Crewed sailing on an IMOCA: a life-size laboratory
Prior to the Vendée Globe, Richomme and his team will take part in the Rolex Fastnet Race, which starts on July 26, and the Ocean Race Europe from August 10, 2025. This crewed stage race will cross Europe, from Kiel to Boka Bay, via Portsmouth, Porto, Cartagena, Nice and Genoa. An ideal format for testing the boat's performance in intensive conditions, providing feedback on technical choices and strengthening team cohesion. The crew is made up of experienced sailors, as well as technical members of the team, for global feedback.
Paprec, from sponsor to project manager: a strong position in ocean racing
A long-standing player in the sailing sponsorship market, Paprec's approach is based on a strategy of complete control: in-house team, in-house construction, long-term vision. By integrating all its skills under the Team Paprec banner, the group is aiming for a clear objective: to win the Vendée Globe 2028 while showcasing its technological and organizational know-how.
