News

Exceptional awards ceremony

Last night evening, on the main beach in Les Sables d’Olonne, François Gabart, the skipper of MACIF received his trophy from the President of the General Council, Bruno Retailleau. As for the ten other skippers who have finished the race,… 

IMOCA chooses the boat for the future

  The Skippers and Members of IMOCA met in Paris on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April 2013 at the IMOCA Annual General Meeting to decide the future direction of their class, and in particular to discuss two major subjects: the design of the… 

Reception of the Vendée Globe skippers at the Elysée

Monday, April 8 at 12:30 pm, the President of the French Republic received all of the Vendée Globe skippers and handed on this occasion the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur insignia to François Gabart, winner of this year edition.… 

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Monday 14 January 2013, 16:03

Vendee Globe live in english with Arnaud Boissieres

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The boat

Portrait

Yachtsmen always wish they were sailing offshore yet not a day goes by without them talking about the waters on which they had their first sailing experiences. For Arnaud Boissières, these waters are in Arcachon and its well-known bay. He is funny, nice and open which, along with his availability, is appealing and comes as a reminder that you can be a very serious skipper without taking yourself too seriously. The yachtsman, who is seen as an ideal buddy, was immediately welcome in the offshore racing world and nicknamed “Cali”, half-tenderly and half-amusedly.

An offensive way of sailing

But there is a lot more to Boissières than all that as he is also a stubborn and ambitious yachtsman. He learnt offshore sailing from some of the best skippers such as Yves Parlier or Catherine Chabaud who trusted him their own boats. He naturally likes to go for things and will never give up. After dismasting in the 1999 Mini Transat, he not only managed to save his boat after a stop in France but he also finished the race. Cali sailed with champions like Olivier de Kersauson in his round-the-world record attempt before making a name for himself in solo races. At the age of 36, he participated in his first Vendée Globe and finish seventh. Even though sailing specialists all agreed on how great his human qualities were, very few expected such a performance from a man who was virtually but soon became one of the favourites of the public, who appreciates his good humor and his availaibility. With a circumnavigation, six transatlantic races and thousands of nautical miles of training, Boissières has become one of the most experienced skippers in the world.

 

Wins and Performances

2011    
Participation in the Transat Jacques Vabres (G. Véniard)
SNSM Record

2010     
7th in the Route du Rhum
2nd in the SNSM Record

2009     
7th in the Transat Jacques Vabres (V. Riou)
7th in the Vendée Globe

2008     
7th in the Transat Artemis

2007     
9th in the Transat B to B
4th in the SNSM record

Others    
Winner of the 2005 Equator Race
Record of the Tour of Ireland
Three Solitaire du Figaro participations: 2002, 2003 and 2004
Three Mini-Transat races: 1999, 2000 and 3rd in 2001
 

Sponsor

  AKENAS Vérandas, an expert in house extension, has been based near La Roche-sur-Yon for 30 years. The company from Vendée is France’s leading veranda producer and has been involved in offshore racing for 8 years. Its first Vendée Globe in 2004 as well as Arnaud Boissières’ brilliant seventh-place finish in 2009 persuaded the executives to continue the adventure. 

Press contact

Aurélie BARGAT
agence@effetsmer.com
+33 (0)6 87 84 38 99