PhD in physics who switched to offshore racing in 2019, targeting the 2026 Route du Rhum
Sasha Lanièce is an engineer by training, PhD in physics from École normale supérieure, and a data scientist. She discovered offshore racing in 2019 with no prior experience of the open sea. Six years later, she is skippering the Class 40 Alderan (no. 186) and preparing for the 2026 Route du Rhum. She founded Les Déferlantes Sailing Team, the first 100% women’s offshore racing project structured around two classes (Class 40 and Mini 6.50).
From scientific research to the Class 40
Sasha’s path is not the typical one of a professional skipper. Trained at École Normale Supérieure, PhD in physics, then data science: her encounter with the open sea came late, in 2019. She transitioned in less than five years from the Mini 6.50 to the Class 40 without a Figaro step. This short trajectory is reflected in her approach to the boat: analytical mindset, extensive preparation, and routing choices that are asserted and defended during racing.
2023 Mini Transat and 24-hour record
In the second leg of the 2023 Mini Transat (series category), Sasha took a bold option in the trade winds and logged 294 nautical miles in 24 hours — earning her, at the time, the category record. The record was reclaimed a few days later by a competitor following the same trajectory. She finished the transatlantic race 28th overall in 26 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. The move to the Class 40 followed in 2024.
The partnership with Sanni Beucke and the Les Déferlantes project
For the 2025 Transat Café L'Or, Sasha sailed with Sanni Beucke, a German skipper, Olympic silver medalist in the 49erFX at Tokyo, and a veteran of The Ocean Race. The duo finished 18th in Class 40. The Les Déferlantes Sailing Team project is built around this concept: maintaining a structured, long-term, sponsored offshore racing program with professional female skippers — not a one-off effort. Title sponsor Alderan (real estate management) signed on for three years, with an announced program of 20 races and four transatlantic races over the period.
Palmarès
- 2023 Mini Transat (solo, series, La Boulangère) — 28th overall in 26 days, 22 hours, 11 minutes. Temporary 24-hour record in Mini series during leg 2 with 294 nautical miles covered (reclaimed a few days later).
- Armen Race Uship 2025 (Class 40 Alderan) — 4th place.
- Les Sables – Horta – Les Sables 2025 (Class 40 Alderan) — 13th overall.
- Transat Café L'Or 2025 (Class 40 Alderan, double-handed with Sanni Beucke) — 18th place.
- Preparation for the 2026 Route du Rhum (Class 40 Alderan, solo).
Links: sashalaniece.com · Instagram @sasha.laniece · LinkedIn.
