| Age | 45 (9/3/79) |
|---|---|
| Top performance | 3-time Paralympic Games medalists in 2.4mR, 5 world titles |
| Joined Imoca on | 2018 |
| Team | Groupe APICIL |
| Base | Lorient (FRANCE) |
| Partners | Groupe APICIL, Mutuelle Intégrance, Mutuelle MBTP, Gresham, Intencial, Veralti, One Life |
| Commitment | Founder of Feet and Hands for more access to water sports for people with disabilities |
Born without his left hand, Damien Seguin still manages to combine two careers: one in Paralympic sailing, the other in offshore racing. Triple Paralympic medallist in the 2.4 mR (gold medal in Athens and Rio and a silver in Beijing) and fifth-time world champion in this discipline, Damien first got into offshore racing in 2005 via the Figaro.
The skipper then moved on to the Class40 (12-metre long monohull) and took part in a number of races: transatlantic races as well as two Route du Rhum races in 2010 and 2014... Determined and constantly looking to improve, the skipper, who for years has been able to convince people that his disability was not a hindrance to his immersion in the world of able-bodied sports, is now tackling a major challenge: the Vendée Globe.
Damien Seguin will have had a remarkable Vendée Globe in the 2020-2021 edition. The first to complete his round the world voyage in a straight daggerboard IMOCA boat and sixth in the general ranking, at the finish, the double Olympic champion declared: "I have always wanted my race to be a form of symbol, being a top level sportsman means, for me, being the showcase for his sport."Mission accomplished for Damien, who has proved that it is no longer a question of whether a disabled athlete can race in the Vendée Globe.
In 2022, Damien continued his good results on the IMOCA circuit, finishing 9th in the Vendée Arctique and the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race. Unfortunately, during the famous Route du Rhum at the end of the year, Damien Seguin dismasted after being hit by a cargo ship, so he was forced to retire.
The skipper and the APICIL Group team then embarked on a major refit of the 2016-generation IMOCA to make her more competitive with a fleet that is constantly evolving technologically.
At the beginning of 2023, while his boat was being refitted, Paul Meilhat called him to take part in The Ocean Race on his IMOCA Biotherm. He accepted and sailed the first 3 legs, covering three quarters of a circumnavigation, from Alicante to Itajaí via the Deep South. The experience he gained was enormous, but the sailor didn't stop there. He will be sailing with Sam Davies, on the IMOCA Initiatives-Coeur, in the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race, before putting his IMOCA back in the water in July and racing the season double-handed on his Groupe APICIL with Laurent Bourgues. He finished the season brilliantly in the Retour à La Base, where he finished 5th.
2018: Bermudes 1000 Race - 3rd
2017: Tour de France à la Voile - 1st
2016: Paralympic Games (Rio) 2.4 mR - Gold
2012: Paralympic Games (London) 2.4 mR - 4th
2008: Paralympic Games (Beijing) 2.4 mR - Silver
2004: Paralympic Games (Athens) 2.4 mR - Gold
5 World Champion Title in 2.4 mR (2015, 2012, 2007, 2005 and 2019)
22 World Cup victory titles in 2.4 mR
| Name | GROUPE APICIL |
|---|---|
| Sail number | FRA 13 |
| Architect | VPLP - Verdier |
| Construction | 2014, CDK Technologies, Port la Forêt |
| Former names | SAFRAN, Des voiles et vous, Maître CoQ IV |
| Length | 18,28 m |
| Beam | 5,80 m |
| Draught | 4,50 m |
| Weight | 8 tonnes |
| Mast height | 29 m |
| Mast type | Wing mast |
| Foils | Yes |
| Sail area max. | |
| Upwind | 310 m2 |
| Downwind | 550 m2 |
Let’s dive into the thrilling preparations for the Vendée Globe. For #IMOCA skippers, 2024 is a crucial year, marking the pinnacle of their efforts. Sailing solo around the world is their ultimate ambition, and simply re…
•••The 2020 edition of the Vendée Globe has generated unprecedented interest. As a result, the organisers decided to increase the number of places at the start to 40 for the 2024 edition. 44 skippers applied for this 10th e…
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