Transat CIC: Yoann Richomme winner in the wake of Tabarly, Poupon, Peyron, Desjoyeaux...

Created in 1960, the English transatlantic has often smiled on French sailors. From Éric Tabarly (1964, 1976) to François Gabart (2016), via Alain Colas (1972), Yvon Fauconnier (1984), Philippe Poupon (1988), Loïck Peyron (1992, 1996, 2008), Francis Joyon ( 2000) and Michel Desjoyeaux (2004), French sailing has triumphed eleven times in fourteen editions of this legendary event between Europe and the United States. For the fifteenth edition of The Transat CIC (its new name), we had to wait until the very last miles to see a tricolor sailor win again. In this case Yoann Richomme.

The skipper of the Paprec Arkéa monohull triumphantly crossed the finish line, installed 110 miles from New York, this Monday at the end of the day, at the end of a fight of eight days, six hours, 53 minutes and 32 seconds concluded with a micro lead over his closest rival, the German Boris Herrmann (Malizia – Seaexplorer) expected in second place ahead of Samantha Davies (Initiatives Cœur). A podium (if it is confirmed overnight) which may surprise but seeing the double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (2016, 219) reigning on the highest step is not surprising.

Still fighting at the forefront since taking off from Lorient eight days ago, and at the head of the fleet since last Thursday, Yoann Richomme confirmed throughout this transatlantic race marked by numerous mechanical breakdowns that it was necessary now count on his boat and him to win. “I am extremely happy to win this historic transatlantic race, which made the history of ocean racing with Tabarly. It’s a lot of pride. And it’s not a neutral feat to win two deckchairs in a row,” said the winner a few minutes after crossing the line in a video press conference, admitting to having experienced “2-3 days at the beginning mentally difficult, before to feel good about my game and my boat.”

Second last November in the Transat Jacques Vabre (double-handed with Yann Eliès) and winner (solo) of the transatlantic return to France, before triumphing in this Transat CIC, Richomme did not take long to tame his monohull Paprec Arkéa launched in February 2023. And after this new victory, it is now clearly established among the favorites for the next Vendée Globe (departure on November 10). For his first solo round-the-world participation, the 40-year-old sailor, originally from Fréjus, has all the (nautical) cards in hand to achieve a masterstroke.