Yann ELIÈS

IMOCA Globe Series13th
Points45 pts
Age51 (1/31/74)
Top performanceThree victories of the Solitaire du Figaro, 5th of the Vendée Globe 2016-17
Joined Imoca on2006
TeamTEAM Horizon 29
BaseLorient (FRANCE)

Profile

A mad talent, an iron will, a man raised in the roughness of North Brittany, Yann is one of those respected Breton sailors.

At a very young age, the Briochin sailor chose the offshore route rather than the school one. At the age of 23, he took part in his first Solitaire du Figaro, his first love of ocean racing, which he raced 17 times and won 3 times...

A solo sailor at heart, Yann discovered the adventure of double-handed racing in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2007 and won the Multi 50 alongside Erwan Le Roux in 2013. He doubled up on this transatlantic race in 2017 in the Imoca class with Jean-Pierre Dick.

His experience was also forged in multihulls on the Jules Verne Trophy with Orange and also on the Route du Rhum in 2014 with the MOD 70 Paprec Recyclage entrusted by Jean-Pierre Dick. The story continued with the gentleman skipper who entrusted him with his IMOCA in the colours of UCAR-St Michel and with which Yann Eliès finished the 2018 Route du Rhum in 2nd place.

In 2019, he won the Transat Jacques Vabre with Charlie Dalin on the brand new IMOCA Apivia. Two years later, he took fourth place in the Route du Café aboard the Juan K. ARKEA PAPREC design, sailed by Sébastien Simon.

In 2023, he embarks on The Ocean Race alongside Team Malizia, then continues the season aboard the brand new Paprec Arkéa skippered by Yoann Richomme.

This collaboration began with the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, where they finished in sixth place, before delivering a strong performance by securing second place in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

The duo continued their momentum during the 2023 Transat Jacques Vabre, once again stepping onto the second step of the podium.

Following these results, he became Yoann’s substitute skipper for the 2024 Vendée Globe.

In 2024, he joined Solidaire en Peloton as co-skipper, finishing fourth in the Route des Terres Neuvas, before lining up for the Med Max alongside Thibaut Vauchel-Camus. At the same time, he continued working on the IMOCA Paprec Arkéa to further enhance its performance.

In 2025, he will support Elodie Bonafous with her new IMOCA project, just as he previously did with Yoann Richomme.

Sailing Highlights

2023 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 2nd
2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 4th
2023 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 2nd
2023 : 1000 Race - 6th
2021 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 4th
2021 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 5th
2021 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 4th
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
2018 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 2nd
2018 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 3rd
2018 : Drheam-Cup 700 - 3rd
2017 : Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
2017 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 4th
2017 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 4th
2016-2017 : Vendée Globe - 5th
2016 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 7th
2016 : New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne - 11th
2015 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 3rd
2015 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 2nd
2011 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 6th
2008-2009 : Vendée Globe - Abandon le 18/12/08
2005 : Transat Jacques Vabre - ABANDON
Other highlights

2022: Trophée BPGO - 5th (Figaro)
2018: Route du Rhum - 2nd (Ucar St Michel)
2017: Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner (St Michel Virbac)
2015: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2015: Transat Jacques Vabre - 3rd
2014: Route du Rhum - 7th (Mod70)
2013: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2013: Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner (Multi50)
2012: La Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2009: La Solitaire du Figaro - 2nd
2008: Vendée Globe - Retired due to injury
2006: French Ocean Racing Champion
2005: Jules Verne Trophy - Co-holder on Orange II
2004: French Ocean Racing Champion
2004: Solitaire du Figaro - 2nd
2004: Générali Solo - Winner (Figaro)
2003: Tour de France à la Voile - 2nd
2002: Jules Verne Trophy - Co-holder on Orange

Boat

Name ASSOCIATION PETITS PRINCES - QUÉGUINER
Sail numberFRA 62
ArchitectGuillaume Verdier
Construction2024, CDK & MerConcept
Former namesHorizon 29
Length
Beam
Draught
Weight
Mast height
Mast type
FoilsYes
Sail area max.
Upwind
Downwind
© Jean-Louis Carli
© © Jean-Marie Liot / Alea
© Yann Riou - polaRYSE / Paprec Arkea
© Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / Paprec Arkea
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia (Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia (Photographer) - [None]
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
© M.Viezzer / ARKEA PAPREC
© Maxime Horlaville
© © ALEXIS COURCOUX
© © ALEXIS COURCOUX
© © ALEXIS COURCOUX