A historic double, and an unprecedented treble. After a first coronation in 2021, Thomas Ruyant once again won the Transat Jacques-Vabre on Sunday, confirming his status as the new boss of the Imoca class and transatlantic crossings. Having left Le Havre on November 7, the northern sailor crossed the finish line with his co-skipper Morgan Lagravière at 2:02 a.m. local time, after 11 days 21 hours and 32 minutes of racing aboard their sailboat For People.
A victory in the form of consecration for this discreet and charismatic sailor. After his title in 2021 and a success on the Route du Rhum in 2022, he achieved an unprecedented hat-trick in the history of ocean racing. “I don’t know if I’m the boss in Imoca,” humbly replied the 42-year-old sailor on the pontoon of honor in Fort-de-France. “As Morgan said, above all we wanted to have fun and that’s what we managed to do,” he added.
Alongside “his friend Momo”, the tandem achieved a flawless performance on this 16th edition of the “Route du Café”, whose route had been shortened due to storms Ciaran and Domingos, forcing the Imocas to stay at the quayside. another week.
“Experiencing these moments with Toto for the second time is magical”
Leaders from Cape Verde, the two sailors relied on the speed performance, regularity and robustness of the blue and white sailboat For People, launched last March. “The boat is simply fabulous, hard, noisy, but fabulous! And the complicity with Momo did the rest! We gave a lot because we spent a lot of time steering,” explained Ruyant, father of 2 children living in Larmor-Plage (Morbihan).
Serene and smiling upon arrival in the bay of Fort-de-France, Thomas Ruyant’s blue eyes were veiled as he thanked his co-skipper, Reunion Islander Morgan Lagravière, and the technical team assembled on the pontoon. “We are emotional, because we know where we come from, and we know the enormous work put in by the whole team. Experiencing these moments with Toto for the second time in a row is magical,” Lagravière came to the rescue. “Above all, I am happy for the team, for this group victory and the guys who have worked like crazy since the boat was launched at the start of the year, all summer afterwards, after our damage to the Fastnet,” explained Ruyant, moved.
“Two sailboats from the same team on the podium, it’s great! »
Behind the winning duo, second place in Imoca was to be decided between For The Planet and Paprec Arkéa, expected at daybreak on Sunday in Flamands Bay in Fort-de-France.
An additional reason for satisfaction for the winner, owner of the TR Racing team, who joined the For The Planet project of British sailor Sam Goodchild, to whom he sold his old boat. “Two sailboats from the same team on the podium, it’s great! I experienced some great moments on his boat (Jacques-Vabre 2021 and Route du Rhum 2022 victories, editor’s note). It’s a treat to see a sailor like him continue to achieve results with it,” said Ruyant.
The sailor, born near Dunkirk, completed this unprecedented hat-trick aboard an 18-meter monohull, designed for the 2024 Vendée Globe, his main objective after finishing 6th during the last edition. “Obviously that’s the goal. We all work for that! We are making our boat more reliable. I know that I have a good machine and that I want to go to the end. But it’s a completely different race, already it’s solo,” warned Ruyant. One year before the departure of the “Everest of the Seas” in Sables-d’Olonne, he is now one of the big favorites.