Loïck Peyron

On 9th November 2008, he will take the start of his 3rd Vendée Globe, nineteen years after his first participation, which took him to the second step of the podium.

Forty-eight years of age, Loïck Peyron has lost nothing of the enthusiasm he had in the early days, and yet he has a wealth of miles and a host of fine victories to his credit.

Born in Pouliguen to a family of five children, Loïck discovered the pleasures of navigation in the bay of La Baule. Son of an ocean-going tanker captain, and a sailing enthusiast, the sea naturally played a large part in his life and that of his brothers and sisters. However, more important than the liquid element itself, which was already an attraction to the young man, was the speed and the search for performance.

It's difficult to combine Loïck Peyron's career into a coherent whole… Methodical, meticulous, innovative and equipped with an extraordinary talent which was recognised by his peers, Loïck Peyron is one of the most titled and most gifted French sailors of his generation. This multi-talented sailor has constructed both a name for himself and an astounding career over the course of various races: second in the Vendée Globe 89-90 after going to the aid of Philippe Poupon off the Cape of Good Hope, triple winner of The Transat and double winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre, four time champion of the Course de l'Europe, five time ORMA world champion who was untouchable for a number of years during the multihull Grands Prix… the list of achievements continues today.

However, this is not where Loïck's motivation lies! Enthusiastic and curious by nature, it is a point of honour to him to constantly search for that little something special that will make the difference. This search for excellence is something he shares with Gitana Team today. In 2006, luck was smiling on him when he crossed paths with Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. The latter entrusted the general management of the Gitana Team to him, and a few months later the helm of the most recent of the Gitana fleet: a 60 foot monohull christened Gitana Eighty. A joint role perfectly adapted to a man who adores challenges.

Tiptoeing back into the Imoca circuit, with an 8th place in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 as a warm-up run, Loïck Peyron was soon the topic of many a conversation once more… Indeed, since that time he has shown himself to be on a par with his rivals: single-handed winner of the Transat Ecover BtoB in December 2007, he went on to take victory in The Transat in May 2008, the third win of his career in this legendary transatlantic between Plymouth and Boston. It was an historic performance because it enabled him to surpass the master, Eric Tabarly, who won the race twice. Added to these two solo victories are two crewed wins during the Grand Prix Petit Navire and the Record SNSM.

The sailor's experience, Gitana Eighty's performances and the four consecutive victories in the Imoca class make Loïck Peyron one of the big favourites in the Vendée Globe 2008-2009. This status is something the man himself does not deny, but for the time being he prefers to ignore it so as he can serenely prepare himself for the great occasion. In a few weeks' time, on 9th November 2008, Loïck Peyron will set off from Les Sables d'Olonne on the third and doubtless the most important Vendée Globe of his career!