Armel TRIPON

Like many adventurers of the seas, Armel began his competitive sailing career by entering the Mini 6.50 class. After a first attempt in 2001, it was in 2003 that he truly made his breakthrough by winning the legendary Transatlantique. This victory allowed him to join the very demanding Figaro BENETEAU Class a few years later. From then on, he entered the world of professionalism and high-level competition. Over seven seasons, he accumulated podium finishes and strong results, crossing the Atlantic at least once a year, both solo and in double-handed races.

Building on his experiences, Armel then distinguished himself in the Class40 before embarking on a new adventure with an IMOCA. His first major achievement in this category came in 2014, when he secured an impressive fourth place in the prestigious Route du Rhum, an unexpected performance that placed him alongside iconic figures of the class such as François Gabart, Jérémie Beyou, and Marc Guillemot.

From that moment on, Armel was entrusted with the helm of the Multi50 Réauté Chocolat, where he claimed several victories, including two first-place finishes, two second places, and two third places, one of which was in the 2017 Transat Jacques Vabre.

In 2018, Armel achieved a major first: his very first solo transatlantic crossing aboard a multihull in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe. This was also his twentieth transatlantic crossing. Just two years after joining the Multi50 class, he won the 2018 Route du Rhum with Réauté Chocolat, a significant milestone in his career.

In 2019, he partnered with sponsor L'Occitane en Provence and worked with naval architect Sam Manuard to design a next-generation IMOCA. This round-bow design stood out for its exceptional performance. During the Vendée Globe 2020-2021, Armel Tripon showcased the full potential of his new boat, being the fastest between the two equators, despite several damages and challenging weather conditions. He finished in 11th place but managed to demonstrate the impressive capabilities of the new foiling boats.

After returning to the Multi50 class with the Les P'tits Doudous association, Armel announced in 2021 his intention to compete in the 2024 Vendée Globe at the helm of an eco-responsible IMOCA. This innovative project relies on the use of recycled carbon fibers, a result of collaboration with the Airbus Technocentre in Nantes. The boat, designed by VPLP and inspired by Boris Herrmann's design, will begin construction at the Duqueine Atlantique shipyard in Loire-Atlantique. This monohull embodies Armel’s ambition to prove that it is possible to combine performance and environmental responsibility, supported by the energy and commitment of the caregivers of Les P'tits Doudous and a collective of partner companies.

Mini 6.50, Figaro, Class40, IMOCA… from 6.50m to 18.28m, Armel has come full circle with offshore racing monohulls. Logically, his attention turns to the boats with several hulls, these super fast, super spectacular trimarans that create their own wind. Armel is entrusted with the helm of the Multi50 RÉAUTÉ CHOCOLAT. He learns quickly, surrounding himself with young sailors experienced on this type of boat like… Vincent Barnaud, his boat captain, with whom he participated in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017. Of the six races at the helm of RÉAUTÉ CHOCOLAT, he treated himself to two victories, two second places and two third places, one of which was in the famous Transat Jacques Vabre!

In 2018, Armel Tripon took part in his very first singlehanded transatlantic on a multihull in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, which also happened to be his twentieth transatlantic passage! Just two years after his arrival on the Multi50 circuit, Armel and his Multi50 Réauté Chocolat won the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2018 in 11 days 7 hours 32 minutes and 40 seconds!

In 2019, the skipper from Nantes, Armel Tripon, has teamed up with the sponsor L'Occitane en Provence and has entrusted the naval architect Sam Manuard with the construction of a new generation IMOCA. This scow plan reveals its performances little by little until the Vendée Globe where it is the fastest between the outward equator and the return equator. "The boat goes fast all the time, it is less hard than many others. I wouldn't be surprised to see this type of boat blossom quite quickly in the IMOCA Class" Victim of several damages and unfavorable weather conditions, Armel Tripon finished in 11th place, but he was able to show the great feats that the new foilers could do. 

After a return to the Multi50 class with the P'tits Doudours association, Armel Tripon announced in 2021 that he would be competing in the 2024 Vendée Globe at the helm of an IMOCA built using decommissioned carbon fiber, the fruit of collaboration with the Airbus Technocentre in Nantes. Two years later, this project has become a reality, and construction began a few days ago at the Duqueine Atlantique shipyard in Loire-Atlantique. Based on a VPLP design and draped in the mold of Boris Herrmann's boat, this monohull will carry the sporting ambitions of a skipper determined to demonstrate that it is possible to combine performance and eco-responsibility, and all the energy and commitment of the P'tits Doudous caregivers who will give their name to the boat, supported by a whole group of companies committed to the association.