A new duo aiming for even greater performance!

Competitors since their Figaro years and friends forged through their battles, Jérémie Beyou and Morgan Lagravière will team up for the first time on the Rolex Fastnet Race, followed by the Défi Azimut and the Transat Café de l’Or (formerly the Transat Jacques Vabre) — the highlight of the 2025 season, which Morgan has impressively won twice in a row! A transatlantic race that seems to hold no secrets for Morgan, making him a valuable asset for the Charal team! Together with Jérémie, they will benefit from a reliable, robust, and high-performance boat. The entire Charal Sailing Team has worked hard to optimize it, introducing a new pair of rudders and several ergonomic improvements. Their common goal: to keep pushing the limits of a boat that has already proven itself — and above all, to leave nothing off the table.

What are the reasons behind your partnership?

Jérémie: “I've wanted to race with Morgan for a long time. He's incredibly talented, never gives up, and he's already proven himself both in the Figaro circuit and in IMOCA. Morgan will be a real asset in helping us find those small percentages that can make a big difference — to fine-tune the boat and make us even stronger.”

Morgan: “Jérémie is a fierce competitor, a skipper who gives it his all at sea — and at the same time, he's a very human and deeply likeable person. He has extraordinary experience, a tight-knit team, and a highly competitive boat. It’s a great opportunity to join him this year and do everything I can to bring that extra edge that could take us to the top step of the podium.”

What motivates you to team up for this double-handed season?

Jérémie: “Thanks to his background and IMOCA experience, Morgan has an exceptional feel for the boat. We complement each other very well. This will help us chase down every detail that could, I hope, lead us to victory. Also, Morgan naturally has more perspective than me since I’m deeply involved in the project. That perspective and fresh approach can help us improve.”

Morgan: “I want to contribute my small part to help him reach the top spot. Between our complementarity, our compatibility on the water, the team’s expertise, and professionalism, I’m confident we can tick all the boxes.”

The major event of the season will be the Transat Café L’Or (formerly the Transat Jacques Vabre). You both have solid experience in this race. What are the keys to performing well?

Morgan: “As Jérémie said, I’m not very analytical — I like to move forward based on emotion, feeling, and intuition. I believe the key is above all a competitive boat and two people on board who can work together, create positive energy, and build a strong dynamic. With Charal, we have everything we need to perform, and if I can bring that little spark to help us transcend ourselves, I won’t hold back!”

Jérémie: “It’s going to be intense with a fast course and few route options. What matters is to quickly get to the front of the fleet. We need to sail the right legs in the English Channel, watch the competitors and wind shifts, and be among the leaders from the start. We’ve noticed that boats that perform better downwind have a slight advantage. That’s actually one of our focuses this year, working on the sail plan.”

The boat is currently in the shipyard. What condition is it in after the Vendée Globe, and what work has been done?

Jérémie: “Despite the relentless pace of the Vendée Globe, we found very little structural damage on the boat. This shows the excellent work done by the entire team to ensure its reliability as well as its very promising potential, which was rewarded by a strong 4th place finish in the Vendée Globe. After replacing worn parts and improving certain aspects of the deck hardware, we were able to focus on optimizations. We reviewed the ergonomics and movement inside the boat to adapt it for double-handed sailing and the crew. We’re also fortunate to be able to use a new pair of rudders that we received before the Vendée Globe. These will give us an advantage in fast sailing conditions and help us gain performance.”

What do you think of the boat, Morgan?

Morgan : “It’s very competitive and capable of winning major races, especially the Transat Café L’Or! It’s a versatile boat, strong both upwind and downwind, with no real weak points. On board, we know we have an IMOCA that allows us to perform. It’s innovative, particularly with its rudder system. It has a lot of potential... and I’m convinced we can manage to unlock 100% of that potential!”

THEIR PROGRAM IN 2025

26 July: Rolex Fastnet Race
18 September: Défi Azimut–Lorient Agglomération
26 October: Transat Café L’Or

 

Source : Charal Sailing Team / Translated by AI