LES P’TITS DOUDOUS
Armel Tripon, a sailor from Nantes based in La Trinité-sur-Mer, is a passionate and versatile self-taught seafarer. After starting out in the Mini 6.50 class, he made a name for himself by winning the 2003 Mini Transat, before joining the highly demanding Figaro BENETEAU class, where he competed at the highest level for seven seasons.
He then continued his career in the Class40 circuit, followed by IMOCA, where he made a strong impression by securing an outstanding 4th place in the 2014 Route du Rhum. This performance placed him alongside some of the class’s most iconic figures, such as François Gabart, Jérémie Beyou, and Marc Guillemot.
Armel also excelled in the Multi50 class, notably with Réauté Chocolat, winning several races including the 2018 Route du Rhum.
In 2020–2021, he took part in the Vendée Globe aboard L’Occitane en Provence, a latest-generation IMOCA designed by Sam Manuard, showcasing the boat’s full potential despite several setbacks. He finished in 11th place, demonstrating the impressive capabilities of the new foiling boats.
Deeply committed to supporting healthcare workers, Armel Tripon is also the patron of the association Les P’tits Doudous, which works to improve the hospital experience of children undergoing surgery. He leads a sporting and solidarity-driven project at sea, helping raise awareness of the association’s initiatives across France.
Together, they are developing a more sustainable IMOCA, built partly using recycled carbon fibers from the aeronautics industry. This project combines sporting performance, innovation, and social commitment, with the Vendée Globe 2028 firmly in sight.
| Course | Rank | Boat | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération | LES P’TITS DOUDOUS | ABANDON | |
| 2025 | Transat Café L'OR | 12th | LES P’TITS DOUDOUS | 15j 02h 29min 16s |
| 2025 | Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération | 8th | LES P’TITS DOUDOUS | 1d 21h 14min 23s |
| 2020-2021 | Vendée Globe | 11th | BUREAU VALLÉE | 84j 17h 07min 50s |
| 2020 | Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération | 12th | BUREAU VALLÉE | 1j 23h 39min 23s |
| 2020 | Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne | BUREAU VALLÉE | Abandon | |
| 2014 | Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe | 4th | MSIG EUROPE | 13j 14h 4min 4s |
2018: Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe - 1st (Multi50)
In 2021, Armel Tripon announced his intention to take part in the next Vendée Globe at the helm of an IMOCA built using decommissioned carbon fiber, the fruit of collaboration with the Airbus Technocentre in Nantes.
Read moreAll summer long, the Azimut teams have been hard at work to do justice to this fine lineup and give this 16th edition an even stronger resonance within the IMOCA community and the Sailing Valley.
•••After a week of racing, we take a look at the IMOCA fleet in the Transat Café l’OR with Sébastien Marsset, finisher of the last Vendée Globe and candidate for the 2028 Vendée Globe.
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