Benjamin DUTREUX

IMOCA Globe Series39th
Points126 pts
Age33 (4/5/90)
Top performance9th of the Vendée Globe 2020
Joined Imoca on2019
TeamGUYOT ENVIRONNEMENT - WATER FAMILY
BaseLes Sables d'Olonne - Port Bourgenay (FRANCE)
PartnersGUYOT environnement, Coyote France, MG Tech, Securlite, Eoliennes en mer Île d'Yeu et de Noirmoutier, FNAC 85
CommitmentLa Water Family - Du Flocon à la Vague

Profile

Considered one of the revelations of the last edition of the Vendée Globe, Benjamin Dutreux has demonstrated his talent and expertise aboard an old generation IMOCA.

He started sailing on Île d'Yeu, first on family vacations, then when he began living there in 1999. After starting his sporting career in sport catamarans, Benjamin moved on to Figaro racing. In 2015, he was the first rookie in the French Elite single-handed ocean racing championship. Both skipper and entrepreneur, he and his brother also set up a boat renovation company, Eole Performance.

In 2016, he became an ambassador for the Water Family - Du Flocon à la Vague, bringing the association on board for its sporting projects.

After several seasons in the Figaro class, he has the opportunity to acquire Japan's Kojiro Shiraishi's IMOCA Spirit of Yokoh IV in 2019. With his loyal boat captain Thomas Cardrin, now his technical director, they set sail in that year's Transat Jacques Vabre, finishing 19th. This was followed by a major refit to ensure that the boat would be ready for the start of the Vendée Globe a year later.

Despite the boat's age (launched in 2007), Benjamin was determined to win. And he succeeded, finishing 9th in the solo round-the-world race. After Cape Finisterre, on November 10, he was even in the lead, for the time of a ranking.

In May and June 2021, during The Ocean Race Europe, Benjamin Dutreux is a crew member aboard Offshore Team Germany, which wins the IMOCA race.

In between legs, Dutreux buys American Charlie Enright's first 11th Hour Racing boat.He won't take her in hand until after the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021.Prior to that, he raced with Damien Seguin on Groupe Apicil, notably in the Rolex Fastnet Race (7th) and the Transat Jacques Vabre (11th, the first IMOCA with straight daggerboards).In 2022, Benjamin took control of his single-handed IMOCA, finishing in the top 10 in the Route du Rhum. Just two months later, Benjamin takes part in The Ocean Race as skipper of Guyot environnement - Team Europe, in collaboration with Offshore Team Germany.After breaking the hull "sandwich" on leg 3, dismasting on leg 4, the start of the final leg turned into a nightmare when the IMOCA skippered by Benjamin Dutreux collided with 11th Hour Racing Team, breaking their bow and bowsprit.They finished 5th overall.

Despite financial difficulties, Benjamin and his technical team decided to embark on a major bow modification project after this round-the-world race, one year ahead of the Vendée Globe.

Sailing Highlights

2023 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 10th
2023 : The Ocean Race - 5th
2022 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 8th
2022 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 2nd
2022 : Vendée Arctique - 11th
2022 : Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 6th
2021 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 11th
2021 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 10th
2021 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 7th
2020-2021 : Vendée Globe - 9th
2020 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 13th
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 19th
Other highlights

2018: Solitaire Urgo le Figaro - 5th
2018: Solo Concarneau - 6th
2018: Solo Maître Coq - 4th
2017: Solitaire Urgo le Figaro - 12th
2017: Solo Maître Coq - 13th
2017: Solo Concarneau - 17th
2016: Solitaire Bompard le Figaro 2017 - 14th
2016: Solo Maître Coq - 14th
2016: Solo Concarneau - 7th
2015: Solitaire Bompard le Figaro - 29th
2015: 1st Bizuth French Championship Elite Offshore Racing

Boat

Name GUYOT ENVIRONNEMENT - WATER FAMILY
Sail numberFRA 9
ArchitectVPLP Verdier
Construction2015, Green Marine, Southampton
Former namesHugo Boss, 11TH HOUR RACING – ALAKA'I, Guyot environnement - Team Europe
Length18,28 m
Beam5,50 m
Draught4,50 m
Weight7,5 tonnes
Mast height29 m
Mast typeMât-Aile
FoilsYes
Sail area max.
Upwind340 m2
Downwind570 m2
© Jean-Louis Carli
© Vincent Curutchet / IMOCA