The Karver engineer turned Class40 world champion
Guillaume Pirouelle, 32, is a naval engineer at Karver since 2019 (INSA Rennes graduate). Born in Rouen, trained in Le Havre, he designs and tests racing hardware all week — then races on weekends. This dual role is far from anecdotal: it’s the exact profile that wins today in Class40.
From 470 junior to Figaro
Multiple European titles in 420 and 470, twice 420 world championship runner-up, then 470 junior world champion in 2015 in Thessaloniki with Valentin Sipan. He then moved to team boats: winner of the 2019 Tour de France à la Voile in Diam 24. In 2020, the Normandy Region selected him to helm the Normandy Region Figaro Bénéteau 3. In his first Solitaire du Figaro in 2022, he won the second leg (finish in Royan) and finished 2nd overall.
The Le Havre duo on Sogestran – Seafrigo
In 2023, he teamed up with Cédric Château on the Class40 Sogestran – Seafrigo (FRA 197, Mach 40.5 by Sam Manuard, built by JPS Production). Two Le Havre sailors on a boat backed by two Le Havre groups (Sogestran and Seafrigo): the project’s coherence is not a marketing detail — it’s what makes a dense schedule sustainable without political friction. 2025 season: Class40 world champions. In July 2024, during the Transat Québec – Saint-Malo, the Pirouelle / Loison / Ducelier crew set the Class40 24-hour distance record at 440.2 nautical miles (18.34 knots average).
Jules Verne aboard Sodebo Ultim 3
Thomas Coville included him in the crew of the Sodebo Ultim 3 for the Jules Verne Trophy, starting December 15, 2025. The maxi-trimaran (Coville, Schwartz, Denis, Leboucher, Pirouelle, Troussel, Legrand) completed the circumnavigation in 40 days 10 hours 45 minutes 50 seconds, averaging 29.17 knots over 28,315 nautical miles, and reclaimed the record on January 25, 2026. Switching from Class40 to Ultim in the same winter is the kind of leap you entrust to someone who can read a boat.
Palmarès
- 2026 Jules Verne Trophy (crew member aboard Sodebo Ultim 3, Coville) — 40 days 10 hours 45 minutes 50 seconds, world record
- 2025 Class40 world champion with Cédric Château on Sogestran – Seafrigo (Mach 40.5 FRA 197)
- Winner of the 2025 Transat Café L'Or (Le Havre – Fort-de-France) with Cédric Château — 19 days 2 hours 34 minutes, 7 minutes 21 seconds ahead
- Class40 24-hour distance record (July 2024, Transat Québec – Saint-Malo, with Loison and Ducelier): 440.2 nautical miles, 18.34 knots average
- 2nd in the 2025 CIC Normandy Channel Race
- 3rd in the 2025 Les Sables – Horta
- 5th in the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race
- 2nd in the 2022 Solitaire du Figaro (winner of Leg 2, finish in Royan) aboard Région Normandie
- Winner of the 2019 Tour de France à la Voile in Diam 24
- 2015 470 junior world champion in Thessaloniki with Valentin Sipan
- Multiple European titles in 420 and 470, twice 420 world championship runner-up
