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First single-handed race in an IMOCA, first victory for Richomme

Yoann Richomme was competing in his first solo IMOCA race on the Retour à la Base, aboard Paprec Arkéa, a new-generation IMOCA launched last February. Late on Saturday 9th December, he won the first edition of this transatlantic race, a qualifier for the next Vendée Globe.

Yoann Richomme
Victoire de Yoann Richomme sur le Retour à La Base
© Anne Beaugé / Retour à La Base

Leading from the fourth day of the race, he didn't move up the rankings until he crossed the finish line. Yoann crossed the Atlantic from Martinique in 9 days, achieving a faultless performance that makes him one of the favourites for the 2024 season!

Yoann Richomme: "We have a boat that is designed to sail in breezes, in rougher seas than the others. It's made for downwind sailing in heavy weather, for the Southern Ocean. I've taken my options on this race in relation to the design of the boat and in relation to what I'm going to experience next year. On the whole, it's very difficult to place the cursor with these boats. You can't be 100% all the time, otherwise you break everything!"

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