Three consecutive Jacques Vabre races in IMOCA, two co-skippers
Morgan Lagravière (born May 23, 1987) has won the Transat duo (Brazil) in IMOCA three times in a row: 2021 with Thomas Ruyant on LinkedOut, 2023 again with Ruyant on For People, and 2025 with Jérémie Beyou on Charal. Renamed Transat Café L'Or in 2025, same format, same outcome. No one else has achieved three consecutive wins in the IMOCA duo category.
From the 49er to the IMOCA
Classic Olympic pathway: substitute in the 49er at the Beijing 2008 Olympics with Stéphane Christidis, then switched to the Solitaire du Figaro Bénéteau. Three consecutive seasons in the top ranks:8th and 1st rookie in 2011, 2nd in 2012, 3rd in 2013. This Figaro experience remains the standard filter before moving to IMOCA — Morgan left in 2014 when Safran Sailing Team recruited him to replace Marc Guillemot after the Route du Rhum.
Safran 2 and the aborted Vendée Globe
From 2015 to 2017, he helmed Safran 2, launched in March 2015. One of the first IMOCA designs built from the start with foils, in the same window as Banque Populaire VIII, Hugo Boss, or Edmond de Rothschild. In the 2016–2017 Vendée Globe, he was 4th overall on the 18th day of racing when an OFNI (unidentified floating object) damaged a rudder in the South Atlantic. Abandoned. His only solo round-the-world attempt to date; since then, his focus has been on the IMOCA duo transatlantic and crew member on Ultime.
The winning crew member
Between 2020 and 2023, Morgan sailed with Gitana Team as crew on the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild during multiple Jules Verne Trophy attempts (record not broken in those windows). Meanwhile, he continued racing the IMOCA duo circuit. The pattern is clear: whether alongside Ruyant or Beyou, on LinkedOut, For People, or Charal, the IMOCA duo transatlantic is won with him aboard. Three different boats, two co-skippers, three victories.
Career highlights
- 2025 — Winner Transat Café L'Or IMOCA with Jérémie Beyou on Charal (11 days 19 hours 45 minutes).
- 2023 — Winner Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA with Thomas Ruyant on For People (11 days 21 hours 32 minutes).
- 2021 — Winner Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA with Thomas Ruyant on LinkedOut (18 days 01 hour 21 minutes).
- 2020–2023 — Crew member Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (Gitana Team), Jules Verne Trophy attempts.
- 2018 — 2nd Transat AG2R with Sébastien Simon (Figaro).
- 2016–2017 — Vendée Globe: abandoned on day 18 (4th overall) due to rudder damage after collision with an OFNI, helming Safran 2.
- 2015–2017 — IMOCA Skipper Safran 2 (next-generation foiler launched in March 2015).
- 2011–2013 — Solitaire du Figaro Bénéteau: 8th and 1st rookie in 2011, 2nd in 2012, 3rd in 2013.
- 2008 — Olympic substitute in Beijing in the 49er, with Stéphane Christidis.
