Nicolas TROUSSEL

Country FR

NC

IMOCA Globe Series85th
Points0 pts
Age49 (5/11/74)
Top performanceDouble winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, 2006 and 2008
Joined Imoca on2019
BasePort-La-Forêt et Lorient

Profile

Two-time winner of La Solitaire du Figaro, Nicolas Troussel is a fearce competitor who has always had the Vendée Globe as his objective. Born in Morlaix (Finistère) on May 11, 1974, of parents working in their own architectural firm, he is the eldest of three children. While he remembers admiring the boats at the start of the Route du Rhum or the Tour of Europe, Nicolas does not start on an Optimist.

Sailing enters his life through summer cruises in the Scilly Islands, often with Armel Le Cléac'h's family. With Jérémie Beyou, the three teenagers quickly formed an inseparable trio that shone in the races of the moment before arriving on the demanding Figaro Bénéteau circuit. Armel won the Solitaire du Figaro in 2003 (then the Transat AG2R in double with Nicolas in 2004), Jérémie in 2005 and Nicolas in 2006 with a brilliant stroke that still remains engraved in people's minds and has since become: La Troussel. 

He reoffends two years later, at 34 years of age. Between the three of them, Nicolas, Armel and Jérémie will each win twice in nine editions of the Solitaire. But the victories were modest for Nicolas, whose objective did not change: the Vendée Globe. This will be followed by two participations in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 and 2009 as co-skipper of Armel, then seven editions of the Tour de France à la Voile, crowned with six podiums. The father of three children will return to ocean racing in 2014 in Class40.

In 2018, CORUM L'Épargne and Nicolas embarked on the Route du Rhum in a new boat. Together, they aim for a podium but Nicolas has to give up for medical reasons. He stops in Portugal where he is welcomed by Frédéric Puzin, President of CORUM L'Épargne, and his close collaborators. The outcome of this campaign is positive in terms of brand awareness. Shortly before Christmas 2018, the construction of an IMOCA designed by the architect Juan Kouyoumdjian was launched with a project that will take them to the Vendée Globe in 2020 and the Route du Rhum 2022.

Nicolas took the start of the famous round the world race on 8th November 2020, but dismasted off Cape Verde. The disappointment was immense, but the sailor bounced back and lost no time in starting the repair work on his IMOCA. After a few weeks, CORUM L'Epargne is ready for the races in 2021. Another busy year as the skipper is taking part in The Ocean Race Europe with a crew and the Transat Jacques Vabre with Sébastien Josse.

Following damage to his keel during the first race of the 2022 season, Nicolas Troussel and the CORUM L'Epargne team were forced to carry out a major repair project and managed to line up at the start of the Route du Rhum in Saint-Malo, a race which he finished in 20th place.

Sailing Highlights

2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - Abandon (démâtage)
2022 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 20th
2022 : Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - ABD
2021 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 8th
2021 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 7th
2020-2021 : Vendée Globe - Abandon le 16/11/2020 - Démâtage
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 13th
2019 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 12th
2009 : Transat Jacques Vabre - Abandon
Other highlights

2022: Route du Rhum - 20th
2022:
Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - Retired

2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - 8th
2021:
Défi Azimut - 7th
2021:
The Ocean Race Europe - 4th
2020-21:
Vendée Globe - Retired 
2019:
Transat Jacques Vabre - 13th
2019: Défi Azimut - 12th
2018:
Route du Rhum - Retired Class40
2002-2016: podiums in 7 participations on the Tour Voile
2007-17: 3 Transat Jacques Vabre (2 in IMOCA)
2014:
Route du Rhum - 2nd
2008: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2007: Transat BPE - Winner
2006: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2005: Spi Ouest - Winner
2004: Transat AG2R - Winner
1998: Solitaire du Télégramme - Winner
1995: Spi Ouest - Winner

Boat

Name NC
Sail numberFRA 6
ArchitectJuan Kouyoumdjian Design
Construction2020, Mer Agitée & CDK Technologies (Port La Forêt)
Length18,30 m
Beam5,70 m
Draught4,50 m
Weight7,9 tonnes
Mast height27,30 m
Mast typeWing mast
FoilsYes
Sail area max.
Upwind260m²
Downwind530m²
© Matthieu Hacquebart / CORUM L'Épargne
© Matthieu Hacquebart / CORUM L'Épargne
© Eloi Stichelbaut / CORUM l'épargne
© Vincent Curutchet/IMOCA
© © Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / Corum l'épargne
© Sailing Energy/The Ocean Race
© Sailing Energy/The Ocean Race
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
© Jean-Louis Carli
© Jean-Louis Carli