Thomas RUYANT

At the beginning of the 2000s, he became enthusiastic about competitive sailing aboard single-handed dinghies, the Laser, then the First Class 8. Finally in a Mumm 30, he discovered the open sea, notably with the crews of the Défi Jean Bart and then Courrier Dunkerque.

When Thomas had just finished his STAPS studies, he discovered a Mini 6.50 in a car park in Dunkirk that he could buy. He renovated it and took the plunge. In 2007, he participated in the Mini Transat, his first major solo experience, which convinced him to continue.

In 2009, he won the Transat 6.50 between La Rochelle and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. His prototype carries the colours of Faber France and the Communauté Urbaine de Dunkerque. In 2010, he won the Route du Rhum in the Class 40 category after a fantastic Atlantic crossing. This victory concluded a sporting season in which he had won all the competitions on the circuit. Eager to perfect his apprenticeship in single-handed ocean racing, the sailor from the north of France followed this up with three seasons in the Solitaire du Figaro.

In 2015, he was called by the Le Souffle du Nord association to compete in the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe. In his first IMOCA race, the Transat Jacques Vabre, Thomas finished, with his friend Adrien Hardy, in a fine fourth place. He then set off on his first round-the-world race with the ambition of being competitive and carrying the message of the NGO Project Imagine, which highlights everyday heroes. Thomas is playing with the best in the sport. Unfortunately his momentum was cut off off New Zealand, the blue and yellow IMOCA boat literally broke apart. He did not abandon his boat and lived through two days of anguish, with his engine idling and his hand on the alarm button, before reaching the coastline, although we still don't know how!

Since this abandonment, Thomas Ruyant has done everything possible to take the start of the 2020 Vendée Globe in high performance conditions, which is what he is now aiming for. He has succeeded in his goal, slipping into fifth place in the rankings. He will have spent two-thirds of the race in the leading trio and will have shown exceptional fighting spirit during his 80 days of racing.

Following the Vendée Globe, Thomas has not stopped climbing on the podiums of the IMOCA GLOBE SERIES circuit, in crewed races in The Ocean Race Europe, in double-handed or solo races. Most recently, it was in the Route du Rhum that he won, after a fierce battle with Charlie Dalin on Apivia.

But Thomas is not to be outdone, as just a few months later, his new IMOCA FOR PEOPLE was launched, with the Vendée Globe 2024 victory as his ultimate goal. While waiting for the solo round the world race, it is with his faithful co-skipper Morgan Lagravière that he will take up the 2023 double-handed season, on his new boat.