A child of Morlaix Bay, Jérémie Beyou discovered the sea thanks to his father. For more than 20 years, he has built up one of the best records of success in ocean racing. A seasoned and passionate sailor, both single-handed and double-handed, the Breton skipper shines through his tenacity and perseverance in raising the bar a little higher in his demands.
It was among the rocks and currents of Morlaix Bay that Jérémie Beyou discovered sailing, first in an Optimist, then in a Moth Europe, alongside other future offshore racing greats like Armel Le Cléac’h and Nicolas Troussel. After competing in events such as the Tresco and the Tour du Finistère aboard his father Alain’s quarter-tonner, as well as early Figaro experiences with local sailors, Jérémie took on the Solitaire du Figaro at just 20 years old. With no money, his sister as his preparer, and his boat doubling as his hotel room, he was already driven by an insatiable thirst for learning. He went on to compete in eight consecutive editions, claiming his first victory in 2005 after an epic stage between Cork and Port Bourgenay, where he triumphed over Michel Desjoyeaux.
Jérémie then set his sights on the Vendée Globe, the ultimate solo round-the-world race. His first attempt in 2008 ended prematurely due to a broken spreader, and his 2012 campaign was cut short again by a damaged keel ram. However, in 2016, despite losing access to weather data and external communication for a large portion of the race, the Finistère native pushed himself to the limit, securing an impressive third place.
In 2020, he lined up as one of the Vendée Globe favorites aboard a cutting-edge, fully optimized IMOCA with foils. However, just four days into the race, he was forced to return to Les Sables-d’Olonne for repairs before restarting nine days, two hours, and 50 minutes after the official departure. He ultimately finished 13th.
With the continued support of Charal, Jérémie embarked on a new project, building Charal 2, designed by naval architect Sam Manuard. This second IMOCA, known for its bold and versatile design with a distinctive scow bow, carried him to a third-place finish in the 2022 Route du Rhum.
In 2023, he teamed up with Franck Cammas for the double-handed season, finishing 4th in the Transat Jacques Vabre. In solo competition, Jérémie claimed second place in the Retour à la Base and consistently ranked among the top four in the IMOCA GLOBE SERIES, with the exception of a 12th-place finish in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
The 2024 season started with challenges, as a damaged J2 stay forced him to retire from The Transat CIC. Determined to bounce back, he delivered his boat across the Atlantic to compete in the New York Vendée, securing a third-place finish just months before the Vendée Globe.
Lining up as one of the favorites for the Vendée Globe 2024, Jérémie Beyou delivered a strong performance but faced fierce competition. Despite his efforts, he narrowly missed the podium, finishing 4th, adding another remarkable chapter to his already impressive career.
2018: Volvo Ocean Race - Winner with Dongfeng Race Team
2015: Solitaire du Figaro 2015 - 4th place
2015: Tour de France à la Voile - 10th place
2014: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2013: Solitaire du Figaro - 5th place
2011: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2005: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
2004: Solitaire du Figaro - 3rd place
2004: Transat AG2R - 6th place with Kito De Pavant (Figaro)
2001: Solitaire du Figaro - 4th place
1998: Participated in the Solitaire du Figaro at the age of 20
| Name | CHARAL |
|---|---|
| Sail number | FRA 3 |
| Architect | Sam Manuard |
| Construction | 2022, CDK Technologies, Lorient |
| Length | 18,28 m |
| Beam | NC |
| Draught | 4,5 m |
| Weight | 8 tonnes |
| Mast height | 29m |
| Mast type | Wing mast |
| Foils | Yes |
| Sail area max. | |
| Upwind | 260 m2 |
| Downwind | 420 m2 |
A top-10 finish in the Vendée Globe – in any edition of this classic race – is a major achievement in the world of solo offshore racing, but in the current race, with its record-breaking 40-strong entry, these are more v…
•••Watch live the ascent of the channel of Jérémie Beyou, skipper of Charal, takes 4th place in the Vendée Globe 2024 and Paul Meilhat, skipper of Biotherm, finishes his Vendée Globe in 5th place!
•••Emerging relieved and happy out of a dark, windy night off Les Sables d’Olonne, Jérémie Beyou crossed the finish line of his fifth Vendée Globe this morning at 00:58 (UTC) to take fourth place from the record fleet of 40…
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