Thierry Dubois

From high-performance ocean racing to expedition engineering

Skipper of the golden generation of French sailing in the 1990s, Thierry Dubois embodies a rare transition in the maritime world: the shift from solo top-level competition to full mastery of naval design for polar environments. His career is marked by absolute technical rigor and a commitment to industrial autonomy.

Profile & Technical Approach

Thierry Dubois defines himself first and foremost as a skipper-builder. Trained in the demands of the Mini 6.50 circuit and later the IMOCA, he developed a sharp expertise in managing composite structures and complex onboard systems. His approach is that of a field engineer: every technical solution must meet a reliability requirement in hostile environments.

La Louise is prepared by Skysat (installation, follow-up, and annual maintenance).

His technical profile is characterized by:

• Mastery of epoxy-wood/Kevlar: Application of robust construction techniques for ice navigation.
• Energy optimization: Implementation of high-capacity battery banks and optimized charging systems for areas with low solar radiation.
• Applied naval architecture: Ability to adapt work hulls to high-performance carbon rigging.

Achievements & Key Milestones

Thierry Dubois' career is marked by success on the most demanding circuits in world sailing:

• 1993: Winner of the Mini Transat aboard Amnesty International.
• 1994: First in the Route du Rhum in Class 2.
• 1996-1997: Participation in the Vendée Globe. Although he suffered a spectacular capsize in the Southern Ocean, his rescue remains one of the most memorable moments in the race's history, highlighting the stability limits of IMOCA boats of that era.
• 2000: Winner of the Transat Anglaise (The Artemis Transat) in the IMOCA category, demonstrating his ability to return to top-level racing after a major technical trauma.
• 2002: 2nd in the Around Alone (round-the-world race with stopovers).
• 2010: Completion and launch of La Louise, after 23,000 hours of amateur construction at a professional level.

Outlook

Today, Thierry Dubois dedicates his expertise to scientific and documentary exploration through his expedition charter structure. His current and future projects focus on:

• Polar logistics: Consolidation of La Louise as a reference platform for scientific missions in Greenland and Svalbard.
• Impact studies: Collaboration with research institutes for observing Arctic ecosystems in transition.
• Technical transmission: Consulting expertise for naval construction projects intended for extreme environments, where the reliability of integrated systems takes precedence over pure speed.