About

Presentation
Founded in 1991 and recognised by ISAF (International Sailing Federation) since 1998, IMOCA is the class association, which takes care of 60-foot Open monohulls (18.28 metres). With more than thirty skippers signed up, its championship includes two round the world races, a round Europe race and several ocean races. The IMOCA class aims to make ocean racing more international and it brings together ideas about competitions, innovation, human adventure and safety.

Goals
The goals of the IMOCA class are to develop the fleet of 60-foot monohulls and to offer skippers an attractive and coherent programme. 
IMOCA defines the rules ensuring fairness, while encouraging innovation and developing the safety of the boats.
Most of the races are solo and double-handed and its world championship rewards exceptional sailors, who race on the most difficult seas in the world.
As it has developed, IMOCA has always paid particular attention to encouraging greater respect for the environment, with renewable energy not merely seen as a resource, but also an important element in terms of performance.

Organisation
Within its organisation, IMOCA brings together firstly the skippers (active members) and other people involved in the development of the class and its projects: the sponsors of boats, project leaders, designers, builders (associate members). The first role for IMOCA is to draw up the rules which govern races, in partnership with organisers, with the goal being to improve still further the safety of the sailors. At the same time, IMOCA stresses the vocation of the 60-foot monohulls as fantastic laboratories dedicated to technological innovation, which may well bring new solutions to the marine sector.

The roles of the IMOCA class
- Bringing together skippers and members to work to develop the class,
- Running and organising the activities of the class,
- Drawing up class rules and contributing to the technological development of the monohulls,
- Organising the World Championship and coordinating the events for the IMOCA class based around an international calendar,
- Applying and promoting the respect of class rules in conjunction with the International Federation (ISAF),
- Promoting sailing and racing between IMOCA 60’ monohulls,
- Encouraging the quest for performance, technological development, safety and responsible innovation.

An international organisation that is a reference
The IMOCA class was set up under the impulse of 50 and 60 foot monohull racers and more precisely, Isabelle Autissier, Alain Gautier, Christophe Auguin and Jean-Luc Van den Heede, who after a testing 1996-1997 Vendée Globe, felt the need to create a common platform and rules bringing together racers, which would allow them  to make progress, both in terms of racing and in the area of safety.
To make things perfectly clear, IMOCA focused on the leading class, in other words the Open 60 monohulls. The IMOCA class then organised itself so that today it is the reference partner for the organisers of major ocean racing events. With the support of the French Sailing Federation, IMOCA is now recognised by ISAF, the international organisation, which coordinates sailing activities around the world.