One of the leading figures in single-handed offshore racing
Francis Joyon, born on 6 April 1956, is one of France’s most decorated navigators in long-distance offshore racing. His career, spanning nearly four decades, is defined by a frugal and exacting approach to oceanic sailing: minimal communication, no frills, a focus on the boat and performance. He is particularly renowned for single-handed sailing on multihulls.
Solo round-the-world records
- 2004: solo circumnavigation in 72 days 22 hours on IDEC II (absolute record at the time)
- 2008: breaks his own record with 57 days 13 hours on IDEC II
Jules Verne Trophy in crewed racing
Francis Joyon won the Jules Verne Trophy aboard IDEC Sport in 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds (absolute world record, 26 January 2017), with a crew of six: Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane.
Route du Rhum
- Route du Rhum 2018: win in the Ultim class on IDEC Sport in 7 days 14 hours 21 minutes, with a 7-minute lead over François Gabart
- Route du Rhum 2014: win in the ORMA60 class on IDEC II
- Route du Rhum 2010: win in the Ultim class on IDEC II
The IDEC Sport adventure (2015–2023)
In 2015, Francis Joyon acquired the ex-Groupama 3 maxi-trimaran (formerly Banque Populaire VII, ex-Lending Club 2) and renamed it IDEC Sport after a three-week refit at Multiplast in Vannes. Over eight years, he turned it into the most decorated machine of its generation, culminating in the January 2017 Jules Verne Trophy. The partnership with the IDEC Group — twenty years of sporting collaboration — ended in April 2023. The trimaran was then handed over to Alexia Barrier for the The Famous Project.
