Francis Joyon

The solo sailor who beat Jules Verne’s record by six

Francis Joyon, born on April 6, 1956, has two major ocean achievements: he set the solo nonstop round-the-world record in a multihull (72 days in 2004, then 57 days in 2008 — more than 14 days under Ellen MacArthur’s previous record), and won the 2017 Jules Verne Trophy with a crew of six, half the usual complement for a maxi-trimaran of that size.

2004 and 2008: two solo round-the-world records

In 2004, aboard the trimaran IDEC (27 m, ex-Sport Elec), Joyon completed a solo nonstop circumnavigation in 72 days 22 hours 54 minutes 22 seconds. Absolute record of the time. Four years later, he had IDEC II (29.70 m, Nigel Irens / Benoît Cabaret design) built specifically for solo sailing, and broke his own record to 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes 6 seconds in 2008 — a time that remained the absolute benchmark until François Gabart in 2017.

Jules Verne Trophy 2017: victory with a crew of six

On January 26, 2017, Joyon and five crewmates (Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane) completed the nonstop circumnavigation in 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds aboard IDEC Sport (ex-Groupama 3, 31.50 m). More than 4 days 14 hours under Loïck Peyron’s previous record on Banque Populaire V (45 days 13 hours, 2012) — set with a crew of fourteen. The contrast in crew numbers sums up Joyon’s approach.

Asian Record Tour and end of the IDEC partnership

In 2019–2020, Joyon set out to break records in Southeast Asia aboard IDEC Sport. On February 19, 2020, he beat the Tea Route (Hong Kong–London) in crewed racing in 31 days 23 hours 36 minutes 46 seconds, ahead of Giovanni Soldini on Maserati. The partnership with the IDEC Group, twenty years of sporting collaboration, came to an end in April 2023. The trimaran was handed over to Alexia Barrier for The Famous Project (crew-only Jules Verne Trophy), under the name The Famous Project CIC.

Palmarès

• Solo round-the-world 2004: 72 days 22 hours 54 minutes 22 seconds aboard IDEC (ex-Sport Elec, 27 m). Absolute record of the time.
• Solo round-the-world 2008: 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes 6 seconds aboard IDEC II (Nigel Irens / Benoît Cabaret, 29.70 m). More than 14 days under Ellen MacArthur’s previous record.
• Jules Verne Trophy 2017: 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds aboard IDEC Sport, crew of six (Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane). More than 4 days 14 hours under Peyron’s 2012 record.
• Route du Rhum 2018: victory in Ultime class aboard IDEC Sport in 7 days 14 hours 21 minutes 47 seconds, with a 7-minute 8-second margin over François Gabart (Macif). New course record.
• Route du Rhum 2014: 6th in Ultime class aboard IDEC Sport (winner Loïck Peyron on Banque Populaire VII).
• Route du Rhum 2010: 2nd in Ultime class aboard IDEC II (winner Franck Cammas on Groupama 3).
• Tea Route 2020: Hong Kong–London in crewed racing in 31 days 23 hours 36 minutes 46 seconds aboard IDEC Sport, ahead of Giovanni Soldini (Maserati).