Szabolcs WEÖRES

IMOCA Globe Series30th
Points61 pts
Age51 (8/20/73)
Top performance6 times Ironman
Joined Imoca on2022
TeamSZABI RACING
BaseLes Sables d'Olonne (FRANCE)

Profile

Determined and persistent, Hungarian sailor Szabolcs Weöres decided at the age of 49 to race around the World single handed on the Vendée Globe 2024 following the footsteps of Nándor Fa, the first non-French skipper to complete the race in 1992-93.

Although he is a rookie when it comes to solo racing, he is certainly not new to sailing. Coming from a family of sailors, he started his career in Optimist, Cadet, 420, FD and Soling, then joined South Africa’s legendary Team Shosholoza for the 32nd America’s Cup as a rigger.

His philosophy is to take everything step by step, manage expectations and systematically build up his solo sailing career. He now has the boat, Ari Huusela’s Stark built by Owen Clarke (originally for Dee Caffari), a small, but professional support team and enough budget for the moment.

Sailing Highlights

2024 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 18th
2024 : New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne - 25th
2023 : Retour à La Base - 28th
2023 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 26th
2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 29th
2023 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 25th
2022 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 26th
2022 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 23th
2022 : Vendée Arctique - ABD
2022 : 1000 Race - ABD

Boat

Name NEW EUROPE
Sail numberHUN 23
ArchitectOwen Clarke Design
Construction2007, Hakes Marine, Wellington (Nouvelle-Zélande)
Former namesAVIVA, STARK, SZABI RACING
Length18,28 m
Beam5,57 m
Draught4,5 m
Weight8,5 tonnes
Mast height29 m
Mast typeMât Classique
FoilsNo
Sail area max.
Upwind270 m2
Downwind580 m2
© Jean-Louis Carli