Double winner of the Figaro, the man behind the "Troussel move"
Nicolas Troussel, born on May 11, 1974 in Morlaix and based in Lorient, won the Solitaire du Figaro twice (2006 and 2008). In the 2006 edition, a bold tactical choice against the fleet’s consensus gave him victory — since then, "faire une Troussel" (making a Troussel move) has entered sailing parlance to describe a high-risk route that pays off against conventional wisdom.
From Figaro to IMOCA
Troussel built his career in one-design racing. Winner of the 2004 AG2R Transat with Armel Le Cléac’h (Lorient – Saint-Barthélemy), he followed up with the 2006 and 2007 Figaro titles (French Solo Offshore Champion in 2007, victory in the solo Transat BPE Belle-Île / Marie-Galante on Figaro Bénéteau 2), then a second Figaro title in 2008. He later competed in Class40 (2nd in the 2010 Route du Rhum) before moving up to IMOCA.
The Corum L'Épargne cycle
In the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre, racing double-handed with Jean Le Cam, he finished 13th overall and 2nd among non-foiling IMOCAs onHubert / Corum L'Épargne. The IMOCACorum L'Épargne — Juan Kouyoumdjian design built by CDK — launched in May 2020 for the Vendée Globe. Five days after the start, on November 16, 2020, the boat dismasted off the Cape Verde islands. Retired. Troussel sailed the boat again in the 2022 Route du Rhum (20th in IMOCA). The Corum partnership ended in early 2023: no entry in the 2024 Vendée Globe.
Jules Verne Trophy 2026 and 2028 project
On January 25, 2026, Troussel was part of the crew aboardSodebo Ultim 3 (skipper Thomas Coville) which broke the Jules Verne Trophy record in 40d 10h 45' 50'', improving the reference time by about 12h 44'. He is simultaneously pursuing a project forVendée Globe 2028 target (IMOCA or Class40).
The Skysat partnership
Skysat preparation on his IMOCA boats.
Palmarès
- Jules Verne Trophy 2026 — crew member aboardSodebo Ultim 3 (skipper Thomas Coville). Record broken on January 25, 2026 in 40d 10h 45' 50''.
- Route du Rhum 2022 — 20th in IMOCA aboardCorum L'Épargne.
- Vendée Globe 2020-2021 — skipper of the IMOCACorum L'Épargne (Juan Kouyoumdjian design / CDK build, May 2020). Dismasted on November 16, 2020 off Cape Verde, retired.
- Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 — 13th overall, 2nd among non-foiling IMOCAs, double-handed with Jean Le Cam aboardHubert / Corum L'Épargne.
- Route du Rhum 2010 — 2nd in Class40.
- Solitaire du Figaro 2008 — winner (second title).
- 2007 — French Solo Offshore Champion; winner of the solo Transat BPE (Belle-Île / Marie-Galante) on Figaro Bénéteau 2.
- Solitaire du Figaro 2006 — winner. The phrase "faire une Troussel" (making a Troussel move) entered sailing vocabulary after this edition.
- Transat AG2R 2004 — winner double-handed with Armel Le Cléac’h (Lorient – Saint-Barthélemy).
