Alan ROURA

IMOCA Globe Series16th
Points226 pts
Age31 (2/26/93)
Top performanceSolo Atlantic Record: 7d 16d 55mn, 2019 July, 19
Joined Imoca on2016
TeamHUBLOT Sailing Team
BaseLorient (FRANCE)
PartnersHUBLOT, BONHÔTE

Profile

Alan Roura is a precocious sailor. After a childhood spent on the water, on Lake Geneva, and then eleven years of sailing around the world with his family, he took part in his first major race at the age of just 20.

Mini Transat, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre... Alan tried his hand at (almost) everything and quickly learned his ocean racing skills. Before tackling the Grail of the discipline: the 2016 Vendée Globe, which he finished in 12th position, becoming the youngest skipper in history to finish the race, at just 23 years old.

Four years later, he was again the youngest skipper to start the ninth edition, which he finished in 17th place. Not spared by technical problems, he nevertheless completed his second consecutive solo round the world race, after 95 days of pain, but rich in lessons for a third participation, already in the making.

At 29 years of age, two-time finisher of the "Everest of the Seas" and holder of the North Atlantic record, the Genevan is now thinking even bigger. With a wealth of experience and a new maturity, the Swiss sailor has acquired the latest IMOCA boat to be born, Hugo Boss, an innovative 60-foot boat with a very closed cockpit. Alan Roura, joined by the watchmaker Hublot and the Bonhôte bank, now aspires to be one of the favourites.

After a mostly double-handed 2023 season, Alan's assessment is rather mixed: despite intense training in Brittany and Portugal, racing results didn't always meet the Swiss duo's expectations. The Transat Jacques Vabre was a highlight, despite the loss of places in the final rankings, and solo on the Retour à La Base, some damage hampered his performance, but he drew important lessons for the following season.

After the Retour à La Base, the last race of the season, Alan Roura announced major changes to the IMOCA, to improve performance next season, the year of the Vendée Globe.

Sailing Highlights

2023 : Retour à La Base - 14th
2023 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 19th
2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 18th
2023 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 17th
2023 : Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 8th
2022 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 21th
2022 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 13th
2022 : Vendée Arctique - 7th
2022 : Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 15th
2020-2021 : Vendée Globe - 17th
2020 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 14th
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 21th
2019 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 15th
2019 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 10th
2018 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 7th
2018 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 10th
2018 : Drheam-Cup 700 - 6th
2018 : Monaco Globe Series - 6th
2017 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 9th
2017 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - Abandon
2016-2017 : Vendée Globe - 12th
Other highlights

2015: Transat Jacques Vabre - 10th (Class40)
2015: Grand Prix Guyader - 7th
2014: Route du Rhum - Retired (Class40)
2013: Mini Transat - 11th

Boat

Name HUBLOT
Sail numberSUI 7
ArchitectVPLP - Pete Hobson
Construction2019, Carrington Boats, Southampton (GB)
Former namesHUGO BOSS
Length18,28 m
Beam5,40 m
Draught4,50 m
Weight7,6 tonnes
Mast height29 m
Mast typeWing mast
FoilsYes
Sail area max.
Upwind330 m2
Downwind630 m2
© Jean-Louis Carli
© Jean-Louis Carli
© Jean-Louis Carli
© Jean-Louis Carli
© © Pierre Bouras
© © Pierre Bouras
© Breschi / LA FABRIQUE SAILING TEAM
© Jean-Louis Carli/ Alea