The men of the Jules Verne Trophy

Morgan Lagravière

Jules Verne Trophy rookie, 1 participation in the Vendée Globe 2016

At 33 years of age, he is the youngest of the sailors on the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. A native of Réunion Island, where he was born, Morgan made a name for himself in the very demanding Figaro class, before launching into the adventure of the open ocean in Imoca during the Vendée Globe 2016. For his first participation, he unfortunately had to throw in the towel in Cape Town due to technical damage. This forced stop at the gateway to the Southern Ocean has prompted his desire to go sailing in these remote regions. With a keen sense of slipping along and as much at ease in the pilot seat (he has his pilot’s licence) as he is on a foiling kite or at the helm of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Morgan’s talent is renowned and acknowledged. He’s setting off on his first Jules Verne Trophy!

David Boileau

Jules Verne Trophy rookie, 1 passage around the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn against the winds and currents (Tea Route record, Route de l’Or on Gitana 13 in 2008)

Boat captain on the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, he knows the latest Gitana like the back of his hand and has been monitoring her progress since the first few hours of her manufacture. An all-rounder and bowman aboard the boat, he is embarking on his first Jules Verne Trophy!

Charles Caudrelier
Skipper

3 round the worlds, including 2 victorious Volvo Ocean Races (2012 and 2018)

The skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, sharing the helm with Franck Cammas, Charles joined the Gitana Team in 2019. A very familiar face in crewed round the world races, double champion of the Volvo Ocean Race as crew in 2012 then as skipper in 2018, this will actually be his first Jules Verne Trophy attempt.

Extract from his track record / Significant victories

  • Solitaire du Figaro 1999 (1st rookie)
  • Solitaire du Figaro 2004
  • Transat Jacques Vabre (2009, 2013)
  • Volvo Ocean Race (2011-2012 // 2017 – 2018)
  • Sailor of the Year 2018
  • Rolex Fastnet Race 2019 (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild)
  • Brest Atlantiques 2019 (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild)
  • Drheam Cup 2020 (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild)

Franck Cammas
Skipper

2 round the worlds, including 1 victorious Volvo Ocean Race and 1 Jules Verne Trophy (48 days in 2010)

The skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, sharing the helm with Charles Caudrelier, Franck joined the Gitana Team in 2019. Ten years after securing the legendary round the world record under sail with Groupama 3, he is setting sail once again to take on the Jules Verne Trophy! In 2010, with his crew, Franck was the first to obtain a sub-50-day record... And in 2020?

Extract from his track record / Significant victories

  • Solitaire du Figaro 1997
  • ORMA Champion (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
  • Transat Jacques Vabre (2001, 2003, 2007)
  • Discovery Route 2007
  • North Atlantic Record 2007
  • Jules Verne Trophy 2010
  • Route du Rhum 2010 (Ultime category)
  • Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012
  • Sailor of the Year 2012 – 2013
  • World C-Class Champion (Little America’s Cup) 2013
  • Rolex Fastnet Race 2019 (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild)
  • Brest Atlantiques 2019 (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild)
  • Drheam Cup 2020 (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild)

Yann Riou

3 round the worlds, including 1 victorious Volvo Ocean Race (2012) and 1 Jules Verne Trophy attempt (47 days in 2016)

Media crew on the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Yann has been involved in the Project since its launch and along with the two skippers and David Boileau, he is very likely the sailor who has clocked up the most miles aboard the latest addition to the Gitana fleet. The third man in the Brest Atlantiques, he’s setting sail again with a pair of skippers he knows particularly well whose company he appreciates. Together, they’ve already notably won a Volvo Ocean Race back in 2012. His twin role – crew and media man – will be a genuine challenge for this guy whose talent enables us to get up close and personal with the adventures of the sailors in Gitana Team. He’s attacking his second Jules Verne Trophy.

Erwan Israël

2 round the worlds, including 1 victorious Volvo Ocean Race (2012) and 1 Jules Verne Trophy attempt (47 days in 2016)

Among the victorious sailors in the Rolex Fastnet Race 2019 aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Erwan has been one of the crew from the beginning. The victim of an accident back in June whilst racing on Lake Geneva, his participation in the Jules Verne Trophy was almost compromised. Indeed, after tearing his posterior cruciate ligament on his knee, he had to wait for it to heal before working like mad with a physiotherapist to get himself back up to the peak of fitness. A much sought-after crew, he was notably alongside Franck, Charles and Yann in the victorious Volvo Ocean Race in 2012. With Gitana, he’ll be attacking his second Jules Verne Trophy.

Marcel van Triest

5 Jules Verne Trophy attempts, 2 of which were rewarded with a record (2012 and 2017)

Yann Eliès

3 round the worlds, including 2 Jules Verne Trophies (2002 and 2005) and 1 Vendée Globe (2016)

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