Eric BELLION

IMOCA Globe Series85th
Points0 pts
Age48 (3/15/76)
Top performance1st rookie in the 2016-17 Vendée Globe
Joined Imoca on2014
TeamSTAND AS ONE
BasePort-La-Forêt (FRANCE)
PartnersAltavia, Workday, SAIPOL, GROUPE AVRIL, BFM Business
CommitmentSTAND AS ONE

Profile

Not only a sailor, but also a writer, film-maker and television columnist, Éric has been promoting the richness of difference for over 20 years.

After a round-the-world solidarity voyage on Kifouine between 2003 and 2006, a record-breaking voyage between Brittany and Mauritius with the Défi Intégration in 2010, and the creation of Team Jolokia in 2011, Éric Bellion set out on the Vendée Globe in 2016 to convey a message about the richness of difference.

He finished 9th, 1st rookie, after 99 days and asserted at the finish that "doing and experiencing different things with different people, that's where happiness lies."

Six years later, although he had sworn he wouldn't go back, Éric decided to set up a new IMOCA project with a view to a second participation, always with this idea of passing on what the ocean teaches him, including how to manage doubts and fear.

Teaming up with Jean Le Cam on this new project, the two skippers have taken their collaboration to an all-time high, pooling everything (knowledge, budget, partner...) to build two 100% identical boats. They wanted a sober, efficient and solid boat to sail around the world. The aim is also to prove that it is possible to build a new boat at lower cost.

Eric Bellion will be the first to launch his IMOCA in June 2023. With co-skipper Martin Le Pape, they take part in the Défi Azimut and the Transat Jacques Vabre, but due to electronics damage and a collision with OFNI, they fail to finish either race.

Sailing Highlights

2023 : Transat Jacques Vabre - Abandon
2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - Abandon
2022 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 23th
2022 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 16th
2022 : Vendée Arctique - 14th
2022 : Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 7th
2016-2017 : Vendée Globe - 9th
2015 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 7th
2015 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 7th
Other highlights

2018: Route du Rhum (RhumMono) - out of time
2016-17: Vendée Globe - 9th

2015: Transat Jacques Vabre - 7th
2015: Rolex Fastnet Race - 7th
2013: Rolex Fastnet Race (IRCZ) - 8th
2013: Record SNSM - 1st
2011: Record des épices (Port-Louis Lorient - Port Louis Ile Maurice) 

Boat

Name STAND AS ONE
Sail numberFRA 5
ArchitectDavid Raison
Construction2022, Persico Marine
Length18,28 m
BeamNC
Draught4,5 m
WeightNC
Mast height29 m
Mast typeWing mast
FoilsNo
Sail area max.
UpwindNC
DownwindNC
© Jean-Louis Carli
© T.OLIVA