APRIL MARINE - RECHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE
Originally from the Arcachon Basin, Arnaud Boissières, nicknamed “Cali”, is a skipper known for his friendliness and tenacity. Trained alongside great names in offshore racing such as Yves Parlier and Catherine Chabaud, he made his mark as early as 1999 by finishing the Mini Transat despite a dismasting. The yachtsman, who is seen as an ideal buddy, was immediately welcome in the offshore racing world and nicknamed “Cali”, half-tenderly and half-amusedly.
In 2008, he finished 7th in his first Vendée Globe, then went on to complete three more editions, placing 8th in 2012, 10th in 2016 and 15th in 2020. In 2021, he took over the former IMOCA Initiatives-Cœur, with which he prepared for his fifth round-the-world race.
After a difficult start to the 2024 season, marked by a retirement from The Transat CIC, he started the Vendée Globe but was forced to retire after a dismasting, nearly two months into the race.
In 2025, he bought Benjamin Dutreux’s IMOCA to continue his project, with the support of 4CAD and La Mie Câline.
| Course | Rank | Boat | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne | 7th | APRIL MARINE - RECHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE | 10j 13h 12min 36s |
| 2026 | 1000 Race | 7th | APRIL MARINE - RECHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE | 6j 2h 39min 8s |
| 2025 | Transat Café L'OR | 9th | APRIL MARINE - RECHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE | 13j 16h 48min 32s |
| 2025 | Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération | 5th | APRIL MARINE - RECHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE | 1d 20h 40min 00s |
| 2025 | Course des Caps - Boulogne sur Mer - Banque Populaire du Nord | 8th | APRIL MARINE - RECHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE | 6j 19h 51min 17s |
| 2024-2025 | Vendée Globe | COUP DE POUCE | Abandon le 30/01/2025 | |
| 2024 | The Transat CIC | COUP DE POUCE | Abandon | |
2008: The Artemis Transat - 7th
The ex-Hugo Boss 2015 designed by VPLP-Verdier in collaboration with Alex Thomson’s team, was undoubtably the most revolutionary of the IMOCA fleet in the Vendée Globe 2016-2017.
Read moreAfter two and a half days of being thrown around in every direction, the sailors competing in the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne are finally enjoying a little respite.
•••After negotiating a first frontal system and crossing a ridge of high pressure, the skippers are entering a new phase of the race. The sea has built, the wind has strengthened and the priorities have shifted. It is no lo…
•••In common with most of the major IMOCA races in recent years, skippers taking part in the Vendée Arctique, which set sail on Sunday, June,7, will be deploying weather and climate data-collecting buoys near the Arctic Cir…
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