News
4.15.26
Lorient confirmed as the finish for inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic this summer
The epic race will take the mixed-crew IMOCA fleet from New York to Lorient, France on a new high-speed transatlantic route.
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Beyond his career as a skipper and competitor, Paul Meilhat dedicates his commitment to scientific and educational causes. He contributes to oceanographic data collection on plankton in remote areas, thus supporting scientific research. At the same time, through L’Échappée Bleue, he introduces children to sailing over several months while raising their awareness about the preservation of aquatic environments.
In April 2014, Paul Meilhat achieved his first major victory by winning the Transat AG2R La Mondiale alongside Gwénolé Gahinet. This success marked a turning point: he caught the attention of the SMA group and had a promising season in the Figaro, finishing 4th in the Championnat de France Élite de Course au Large en Solitaire.
In 2015, Meilhat took a major step forward by joining the IMOCA circuit. After a year of learning, he built on his performance, securing two 4th places in the New York-Vendée and The Transat Bakerly. However, in the Vendée Globe, while he was in the top three, a keel ram failure after 52 days at sea forced him to retire.
Returning from this experience transformed, he enjoyed a prolific season in 2017. With Gwénolé Gahinet, he piled up victories: the ArMen Race, Rolex Fastnet Race, Défi Azimut, and a remarkable 2nd place in the Transat Jacques Vabre, competing against the best foilers on the circuit.
The following year, he stood out again by winning the Monaco Globe Series and, above all, the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, a remarkable achievement considering his boat was not equipped with foils. But by the end of the year, his partnership with SMA ended, and Meilhat had to go back in search of new sponsors.
He quickly bounced back. After sailing double-handed with Samantha Davies and Charlie Dalin, he was crowned IMOCA Champion in 2021. He then set his sights on a full program: The Ocean Race 2023, followed by the Vendée Globe 2024. "It’s a big dream for me to do this race," he said about The Ocean Race. "Sailing with an incredible boat, traveling the world, sharing this adventure with as many people as possible... That’s the very essence of sailing."
In 2022, he found a new partner in Biotherm and launched the construction of a state-of-the-art IMOCA, designed by Guillaume Verdier. Barely launched, he finished 6th in the Route du Rhum. In January 2023, he set off on The Ocean Race and finished 4th overall after a crewed round-the-world race. Upon returning to Lorient, he followed up with the Défi Azimut and the Transat Jacques Vabre, racing with Mariana Lobato. However, a mainsail tear off the Breton coast prematurely ended their adventure.
On the start line of the Vendée Globe 2024, the solo round-the-world race, Paul Meilhat was one of the outsiders capable of surprising, thanks to his 2022 Verdier design, which had been fine-tuned after The Ocean Race. However, the race would not be easy for the skipper, who ultimately finished in 5th place. After a challenging climb up the Atlantic, marked by a broken J2 stay—crucial for the stability of his mast—Paul demonstrated resilience to finish just behind the top contenders on the circuit.
In 2025, he announces that he will take part in The Ocean Race Europe, still sailing under the Biotherm colors.
2017: Armen Race - 1st
2015: Record SNSM - 1st
2015: Ar Men Race - 1st
2014: La Solitaire du Figaro - 5th
2014: Transat AG2R - 1st
2013: Solo Concarneau - 1st
2013: Tour de Bretagne - 1st
2012: Transat AG2R - 4th
2012: Solitaire du Figaro - 9th
2011: Solitaire du Figaro - 6th
2009: Solitaire du Figaro - 19th
2000: French Junior Laser Espoir Champion
| Name | BIOTHERM |
|---|---|
| Sail number | FRA 2030 |
| Architect | Guillaume Verdier |
| Construction | 2022, Persico Marine |
| Length | 18,28 m |
| Beam | 5,4 m |
| Draught | 4,5 m |
| Weight | 8 tonnes |
| Mast height | 29 m |
| Mast type | Wing mast |
| Foils | Yes |
| Sail area max. | |
| Upwind | 260 m2 |
| Downwind | 600 m2 |
The epic race will take the mixed-crew IMOCA fleet from New York to Lorient, France on a new high-speed transatlantic route.
•••The second edition of The Ocean Race Europe is now behind us – an event that produced compelling racing over seven hectic weeks on a course that circled Europe, from Kiel to Boka Bay in Montenegro, and with one clear win…
•••The new transatlantic race connects two iconic cities - New York to Barcelona.
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