Yoann Richomme

Yoann Richomme is a French IMOCA 60 skipper who finished second in the 2024-25 Vendee Globe aboard Paprec Arkea, completing the solo circumnavigation in approximately 66 days, a time that would have been a record in any previous edition. His campaign demonstrated that French offshore sailing has extraordinary depth.

Before the Vendee Globe, Richomme competed in the Route du Rhum in the Class40 division, a different category from the IMOCA 60s, demonstrating his versatility across boat types and race formats. The progression from Class40 experience to IMOCA podium finish reflects a structured career development that France's professional sailing infrastructure supports.

Richomme's 2026 target is the Route du Rhum in November, where he will race in the IMOCA 60 class against Charlie Dalin and the rest of France's offshore elite. The solo transatlantic from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe, 3,543 nautical miles through the North Atlantic in November, is one of the most demanding challenges in sailing. Richomme's Vendee Globe experience, having sailed alone for over 60 days in the Southern Ocean, provides the mental and physical preparation that the Route du Rhum demands.

Paprec Arkea, Richomme's IMOCA 60, is a competitive boat that proved its speed during the Vendee Globe. The French IMOCA fleet is the deepest in the world, with multiple boats capable of winning the Route du Rhum. The competition between Dalin, Richomme, and the rest of the French armada will be one of the storylines of the 2026 offshore sailing season.

Richomme's sailor profile is different from Dalin's: less media attention, less corporate visibility, but an intensity of focus and a tactical intelligence that made him the closest pursuer in the toughest race. The 2026 Route du Rhum offers a chance to step out of the shadows and claim a solo victory in his own right.