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A Belgian sailor who has sailed the world's oceans
Gaëtan Thomas is no newcomer to offshore sailing. Born in Belgium in 1987, he discovered sailing as a child, first in an Optimist, then in a 420. He joined the Belgian national team and competed in several international events before turning his attention to cruising yachts.
The rest of his career has taken a less conventional path. Rather than focusing exclusively on the racing circuit, he has gained a wide range of professional experience at sea: boat deliveries, transatlantic crossings, boat preparation, crew supervision, and offshore racing.
To date, he has logged more than 200,000 nautical miles, completed about 20 ocean crossings, and sailed around the world in a race. He has sailed on monohulls and multihulls of various sizes, both solo and with a crew.
The Clipper Race: A Life-Changing Experience
In 2017, he was selected as a professional skipper for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. This round-the-world race, which is run in stages, has a unique feature: the crews are made up of amateur sailors?some with little experience?who are led by professional skippers.
Gaëtan Thomas then took charge of the sailboat Garmin , a 70-foot monohull. The 2017?2018 season ended with his team finishing fourth overall.
Beyond the sporting results, this experience has given him in-depth knowledge of long-distance sailing, crew management, and the logistical challenges of a round-the-world race.
Since then, the Belgian, who is based in Lorient, has continued to work as a skipper and race preparer. In particular, he participates in transatlantic crossings and sails on various Class40 boats. In 2025, he will also compete in the Transat Café L'Or.
An Unexpected Invitation to the Route du Rhum
The Route du Rhum was one of his goals, but the opportunity to compete in the 2026 edition came rather late. In early October, during a discussion focused on finding sponsors, Gaëtan Thomas explained that he had received a surprise offer to compete in the Class40 category.
The boat is provided by its owner, José Guilherme Caldas, a Brazilian doctor who is committed to raising awareness about strokes.
The monohull then bore the Barco Brasil colors, with the number 151.
For the Belgian sailor, this opportunity immediately shifts his priorities. He must prepare the boat, organize the logistics, gather the necessary equipment, and meet the competition?s sporting requirements.
Preparations for the Route du Rhum usually begin well in advance. In his case, however, much of the work must be completed in just a few weeks.
A Class40 that has already crossed the oceans
The boat entrusted to Gaëtan Thomas did not come directly from a shipyard. This 12.19-meter Class40 has already taken part in a round-the-world sailing project under the Barco Brasil banner. In particular, it carries the legacy of José Guilherme Caldas and Luiz Bolina, who used their voyages to raise public awareness about strokes.
For the Route du Rhum, Gaëtan Thomas is therefore taking on a boat that already has a history of racing and community involvement.
This situation has one advantage: the monohull is already available, which eliminates the need to finance its purchase or construction.
But it also requires some maintenance work. After long voyages, the equipment must be inspected and certain parts replaced. The sailor must work within a tight schedule and with limited financial resources. His experience as a boat preparer allows him to perform a significant portion of the work himself.
Qualification secured, but the budget remains fragile
On the athletic side, Gaëtan Thomas quickly qualified. That leaves the financial issue.
The expenses included, in particular, the standing rigging, the backstays, the halyards, certain repairs to the mast, handling costs, and the purchase of additional equipment.
The budget changed over the course of several weeks. The traveler used his personal savings and received help from family and friends to cover the initial expenses.
So the challenge is no longer just about qualifying. You also need to have a boat that?s ready to sail and the necessary resources to complete the race all the way to Guadeloupe.
A transatlantic swim to raise awareness about strokes
The project also has a community outreach component. For several years now, the Class40 Barco Brasil has been promoting a stroke prevention message: ?Every minute counts.?
By taking over the boat, Gaëtan Thomas hopes to continue this initiative in partnership with the France AVC Endowment Fund.
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched on HelloAsso . It must contribute to the costs of preparing for and participating in the race, while also supporting awareness-raising efforts. It is therefore important to distinguish between funding for the boat?s racing expenses and the funds allocated directly to the endowment fund.
The prevention message is based on a simple principle: if a stroke is suspected, prompt treatment is critical. Recognizing the signs and calling emergency services immediately can change the prognosis.
For Gaëtan Thomas, the Route du Rhum offers an opportunity to continue raising awareness during a transatlantic crossing.
