| Age | 34 (10/13/91) |
|---|---|
| Top performance | 2nd of the Mini Transat 2019 |
| Joined Imoca on | 2025 |
| Team | CAFÉ JOYEUX |
| Base | Lorient (FRANCE) |
After starting his career in consulting, Nico d'Estais decided to change course and turn his lifelong passion into a profession by becoming an offshore racing skipper.
After racing in the Mini and Class40 circuits, Nico is now joining the IMOCA Class with the goal of competing in the Vendée Globe 2028!
2023: Transat Jacques Vabre – 18th (Class40)
2022: Route du Rhum – 12th (Class40)
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre – 13th (Class40)
2019: Mini Transat – 2nd
2018: Les Sables d’Olonne / Azores / Les Sables d’Olonne – 3rd
2015: Mini Transat – 9th
© Gauthier Lebec
| Name | CAFÉ JOYEUX |
|---|---|
| Sail number | FRA 30 |
| Architect | VPLP - Verdier |
| Construction | 2010, CDK Technologies |
| Former names | MACIF, SMA, BANQUE POPULAIRE X, MONNOYEUR - DUO FOR A JOB |
| Length | 18,28 m |
| Beam | 5,40 m |
| Draught | 4,50 m |
| Weight | 7,7 tonnes |
| Mast height | 29 m |
| Mast type | Wing mast |
| Foils | No |
| Sail area max. | |
| Upwind | 250 m² |
| Downwind | 530m² |
The face of the race changed within a few hours. After more than 24 hours trapped in a stubborn calm, the competitors in the 1000 Race found wind again last night, with a north-easterly flow setting in.
•••The IMOCA Class returns to the racecourse today for the first time in 2026, with a small but high quality fleet of solo skippers taking on the fifth edition of the 1000 Race.
•••On Sunday 3rd May at midday local time., the IMOCA season shall kick off in Port-La-Forêt with the start of the 1000 Race. Seven skippers will line up to take on a demanding 1000nautical-mile course, stretching from the …
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