Record-breaking sailor: François Gabart swaps competition for family circumnavigation

Whether it's his Vendée Globe victory or the fabulous record of his solo circumnavigation: "I've experienced great things that I now want to share with my loved ones." French offshore star François Gabart told the sports newspaper L'Équipe in an exclusive interview. The 42-year-old ocean racer and record-breaking sailor is one of the outstanding protagonists of offshore sailing in France, a country that is very fond of sailing. Now he wants to change his perspective and is planning a three-year circumnavigation with his family on a large cruising catamaran.

New prospects for the record-breaking sailor

Record-breaking sailor François Gabart celebrated one of his greatest successes at the seventh edition of the Vendée Globe. On 27 January 2013, he not only crossed the finish line of the solo round-the-world race as the winner for the first time. In Les Sables-d'Olonne, he was also celebrated at the age of 29 as the youngest Vendée Globe winner to date. Many more highs and challenges followed. Now it's off to new shores.

I'm not leaving the ocean. I just look at it a little differently." François Gabart

François Gabart says: "After almost 20 years of competitions, incredible races, records and strong emotions, I have decided to explore new horizons. Still at sea, more than ever. The boat will be my home, the wind my engine, the sea my garden."

He once experienced this feeling himself, as he explains: "As a child, I was lucky enough to go on an Atlantic cruise with my family. This experience had a profound impact on my life, my relationship with the world, with nature and with society. Today, I want to share this with those I love."

From record-breaking sailor to cruising skipper

François Gabart announced his new family plans: "Next autumn, we will cast off for a three-year trip around the world with our family and the boat. No competition, no sporting challenges. Just time together to explore the world, discover other cultures, learn, travel and sail."

François Gabart's masterful career began around three decades ago: as a 14-year-old, he won the Opti Championship in France in the Optimist. As French Moth champion in 1999 and also as youth world champion in the then Olympic catamaran Tornado, Gabart shone early on before he - like so many of his fellow travellers - quickly and successfully found access to sailing and his vocation via the Figaro Circuit.

The clever and design-orientated darling of French sailing followed his first podium finish in the Imoca class with the acclaimed Vendée Globe victory in 2012/2013 at the first attempt. Back then, he defeated co-favourite Armel Le Cléac'h, who won the race four years later in a duel with Alex Thomson. François Gabart achieved another exceptional performance at the age of 34 on 17 December 20017.

Fabulous performance by the record-breaking sailor

At the time, he set a new world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation in 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds on the trimaran "Macif". Average speed: 27.2 knots! YACHT film author Nils Günter also made a legendary comment: "The man from Finistère at the end of the world sails almost out of this world." Gabart's and all other important records in the sailing world are can be found here at the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

Gabart's comment shortly after crossing the finish line: "I've just crossed the finish line. It's pretty crazy, it's pretty surreal, I'm a bit stunned. I'm proud and happy to have made this beautiful journey around the planet." Two other top performances show just how outstanding the record is to this day.

Last year, Charles Caudrelier won the Arkea Ultim Challenge solo circumnavigation in 50 days and 19 hours on the Ultim ship "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild". The fastest circumnavigation by a crew in 2017 was achieved by Francis Joyon's crew on "Idec Sport" in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. This record still stands, but is less than two days behind the performance of soloist Gabart.

The restless record-breaking sailor

The year 2020 marked another turning point in the skipper's career. The Macif Group ended its Ultim programme, but the sponsor persevered with the construction of the new boat. The assembly of this huge trimaran was carried out in Concarneau by Mer Concept carried out. The company was founded by François Gabart in 2006.

Driven by the desire to give his challenges more meaning, François Gabart embarked on the challenging mission of finding a new partner who would also share his marine conservation ambitions. In May 2021, the French cosmetics group Kresk joined François Gabart, the skipper of the trimaran "SVR Lazartigue".

From November 2021, François Gabart took on global challenges with the giant, including second place in the Ultim class in the classic Transat Jacques Vabre. Most recently, François Gabart's crew on "SVR Lazartigue" made several attempts to set a new Jules Verne record for the fastest circumnavigation, but had to turn back five times due to technical problems or unfavourable conditions.

Record-breaking sailor leaves future open

Gabart is now putting his career on hold for the time being, wanting to discover new horizons beyond high-performance and regatta sailing. The world he wants to sail around remains the same. The crew will be completely different from October with his three children aged 13, 7 and 5. François Gabart told French media that he had wanted to make such a journey for a long time. Also as a tribute to his own childhood: as a six-year-old, he himself enjoyed the big trip with two sisters and his parents.

François Gabart has not ruled out a return to racing after the family project. He would "probably come back at the age of 45". Smiling, he told L'Équipe that he would then "perhaps continue with Vendée Globes". However, the future globetrotter does not want to commit himself to his future. The "SVR Lazartigue" is sailed in the Transat Café L'Or by the duo Tom Laperche and Franck Cammas.

But Gabart let us know this much before what was perhaps the most important and most beautiful trip of his life: He continues to advise companies and projects such as MerConcept, Vela - Sail for Goods and also the team behind the trimaran "SVR Lazartigue". Gabart leaves with a good feeling: "Trustworthy teams are in place to keep the helm on course with the same passion. I am proud of what we have built and look forward to the future."

In 2018, François Gabart was crowned Seamaster after his legendary record solo around the world at the boot in Düsseldorf. The record still stands today! Watch the film: