Charlie Capelle is a unique figure in the French offshore racing scene. Amateur skipper from Mirecourt in the Vosges — yes, far from the sea — he has run for 30 years Technologie Marine, a small business of about ten people specializing in custom boat building.
His mount? Acapella, a 35-foot bright yellow trimaran launched in 1978, sister-ship of Mike Birch’s famous Olympus Photo — winner of the first Route du Rhum. Charlie has saved it three times: wreck found in Galicia in 2000, capsize off Cape Finisterre in 2006, and several other refits in between. Each time, he puts the boat back in the water.
Competing in the Rhum Multi category with his original trimaran, Charlie remains loyal to his historic mount. Route du Rhum 2018, then Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe 2022, where he finishes 9th in Rhum Multi in 21 days 7 hours 56 minutes 24 seconds, sailing under the colors of La Chaîne de l'Espoir.
Charlie embodies a certain idea of offshore racing: pure passion, loyalty to the boat, refusal of technological overreach. At a time when Ultims fly at 40 knots, he continues to sail a nearly 50-year-old trimaran — and does so with flair.
Official site: acapellaocean.com.
