Francois Gabart strides about the deck. Making phone calls, directing the refit, hands on. Clambering in and out of hatches. Intent on the task in hand. Radiating energy and purpose.
He is the fastest solo sailor to circle the planet. His speed record, set in 2017, in the pre offshore foiling era, aboard the Ultim trimaran MACIF, remains unbeaten.
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Despite repeated annual attempts, by the new generation of foiling Ultims, during the Jules Verne trophy season. (Northern hemisphere winter / southern hemisphere summer). Not least by his own SVR Lazartigue. (Pictured in 2023).
Francois founded Mer Concept, in Concarneau, to fuel his, IMOCA class, Vendee Globe campaign. Which culminated in his 2012 victory. The company has subsequently supported Charlie Dalin's fruitful IMOCA career.
MACIF, Charlie's 2024 Vendee Globe winner is moored beside Francois' own boat.
A powerful cruising catamaran. His latest project, at the age of forty two (coincidentally his Jules Verne record is forty two days), is an extended around the world cruise, with his young family. Seizing the moment. As is the Francois Gabart way.
Picture Credits
Francois Gabart sets the Jules Verne record in 2017: courtesy of Thibault Camus / AP
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