Thomas RUYANT

IMOCA Globe Series12th
Points174 pts
Age43 (5/24/81)
Top performanceWinner of the Route du Rhum (2022) and twice winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre (2021 and 2023)
Joined Imoca on2015
TeamTR RACING
BaseLorient (FRANCE)
PartnersAdvens For Cybersecurity
CommitmentVULNERABLE - a campaign to change our perception of vulnerability

Profile

Thomas Ruyant est originaire de Malo-les-Bains dans les Hauts-de-France. Enfant, il pratique la voile en famille, il est également passionné par la course à pied et le hockey sur glace. Aujourd'hui, il a remporté 6 transatlantiques sur quatre supports différents : la Mini Transat 2009 ; la Route du Rhum 2010, sur un Class40 ; la Transat AG2R 2018, sur un Figaro 2, avec Adrien Hardy ; les Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 et 2023 , sur un IMOCA, avec Morgan Lagravière ; et la Route du Rhum 2022, sur un IMOCA en solitaire.

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 the podiums on the IMOCA GLOBE SERIES circuit, whether as part of a crew in The Ocean Race Europe, sailing double-handed or single-handed. Most recently, he won the Route du Rhum, after a fierce battle with Charlie Dalin on Apivia.

But Thomas is not to be outdone: just a few months later, his new IMOCA FOR PEOPLE was launched, with the ultimate goal of winning the 2024 Vendée Globe. While he waits for the solo round the world race, it is with his loyal co-skipper Morgan Lagravière that he is resuming the 2023 double-handed season on his new boat. After a season full of twists and turns, between victories and unplanned refits, Thomas broke the record for the most distance covered in 24 hours single-handed on a 60-foot monohull during the Return to Base, before tearing his mainsail, which penalised him for achieving a good result.

 

Sailing Highlights

2024 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 7th
2024 : New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne - 5th
2023 : Retour à La Base - 17th
2023 : Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 3rd
2023 : Rolex Fastnet Race - Retired
2023 : Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - Winner
2022 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - Winner
2022 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 2nd
2022 : Vendée Arctique - 3rd
2022 : Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - ABD
2021 : Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
2021 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 3rd
2020-2021 : Vendée Globe - 6th
2020 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 9th
2020 : Vendée Arctique - 3rd
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 5th
2019 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 16th
2018 : Monaco Globe Series - 4th
2017 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 4th
2016-2017 : Vendée Globe - Abandon le 20/12/2016
2016 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 8th
2015 : Transat St Barth - Port La Forêt - Abandon le 14/12
2015 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 4th
2015 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 4th
Other highlights

2013: Rolex Fastnet Race - 4th in Class40
2013: Transat Jacques Vabre - Retired in Class40
2013: Solitaire du Figaro - 25th
2013: Tour de Bretagne à la voile - 4th
2012: Solitaire du Figaro - 16th
2011: Transat Jacques Vabre - Retired
2011: Solitaire du Figaro - 21th
2010: Record SNSM - Winner
2010: Route du Rhum - Winner in Class40
2010: Normandy Channel Race - Winner in Class40
2009 : Transat 6.50 - Winner
2009 : Tour de France à la Voile - Winner

Boat

Name VULNERABLE - RUYANT
Sail numberFRA 59
ArchitectAntoine Koch et Finot-Conq
Construction2022, CDK Technologies
Length18,28 m
Beam
Draught4,50 m
Weight
Mast height29 m
Mast typeWing mast
FoilsYes
Sail area max.
Upwind
Downwind
© Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / IMOCA
© François Van Malleghem | Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race
© Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / IMOCA
© Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / IMOCA