Jean-Paul Rivière

The owner of Nomad IV, from the RORC record to Antarctica

French entrepreneur, trained as an engineer and founder of the Altitude Group, Jean-Paul Rivière has been sailing Nomad IV since 2013: a 100-foot all-carbon maxi monohull, Finot-Conq design built by Maxi Dolphin in Italy. A boat conceived as a unique platform, capable of setting a crewed transatlantic record and then sailing below 60°S with his family.

The RORC Transat 2015 monohull record

In November 2015, during the second edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race (Lanzarote → Grenada, 2,995 nautical miles), Nomad IV claimed the monohull line honours and set the monohull record for the event in 10 days 7 hours 6 minutes 59 seconds. A benchmark that became synonymous with the boat and validated the carbon build concept at 100 feet for an offshore transatlantic race.

2020: Nomad IV beyond the Arctic Circle

In 2020, Nomad IV became the first all-carbon sailboat to reach Antarctica. The contrast with the transatlantic race could not be greater: same boat, different program, sailing outside coverage zones with the routing, weather, and communication constraints inherent to a southern expedition on a 100-footer.

2023 refit and continuation of the program

The boat underwent a major refit in 2023, a decade after its launch. Meanwhile, Jean-Paul Rivière chairs the Armada de la Liberté association, which organized the Armada de Rouen 2023. The sailing program continues, still aboard this same 100-foot carbon boat.

Nomad IV achievements

• RORC Transatlantic Race 2015 (Lanzarote → Grenada) — monohull line honours and monohull record of the event in 10d 7h 6m 59s.
• 2020 — first all-carbon sailboat to reach Antarctica.
• 2023 — major refit of the boat, a decade after its launch.