An early champion, Jean has been racing since childhood in the Concarneau bay, both in dinghies and on the family Armagnac Mervent, which has left an unforgettable memory for all offshore sailors of the time.Crew member, then co-skipper and friend of Éric Tabarly, he has built an extraordinary ...
An early champion, Jean has been racing since childhood in the Concarneau bay, both in dinghies and on the family Armagnac Mervent, which has left an unforgettable memory for all offshore sailors of the time.
Crew member, then co-skipper and friend of Éric Tabarly, he has built an extraordinary high-level sailing career since 1982, both in monohulls and multihulls. His record is impressive: Atlantic record holder in 1982, Formula 40 world champion in 1988 and 1989, winner of the Transat AG2R in 1994, three-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro in 1994, 1996, and 1999, winner of the 1000 miles of Calais in 2004… He is nicknamed “King Jean.”
The charm of his majesty and his witty remarks have always energized the crowds. During his reign, King Jean has overcome many trials and encountered numerous traps set along his path (capsizing during the 2008 Vendée Globe, dismasting during the Transat Jacques Vabre, and during the Barcelona World Race 2010).
By announcing his participation in the 2012 Vendée Globe, His Highness will therefore leave his fortress in the Valley of Fools and reconnect with the far reaches of his territory, the infinite spaces of his kingdom, determined to compete with the twenty sea princes who will vie for his crown.