Jean-Paul Rivière

The owner of Nomad IV, from the RORC record to Antarctica

French entrepreneur, trained as an engineer and founder of the Altitude group, Jean-Paul Rivière has sailed Nomad IV since 2013: a 100-foot all-carbon maxi monohull, Finot-Conq design built by Maxi Dolphin in Italy. A boat designed as a unique platform, capable of breaking a professional crew transatlantic record and then sailing below 60° South with his family.

The RORC Transat 2015 monohull record

In November 2015, on the second edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race (Lanzarote → Grenada, 2,995 nautical miles), Nomad IV claimed the monohull line honours and set the monohull record for the event in 10 days 7 hours 6 minutes 59 seconds. A benchmark that fits the boat and validates the carbon gamble at 100 feet for an offshore transatlantic race.

2020: Nomad IV beyond the Arctic Circle

In 2020, Nomad IV became the first all-carbon sailboat to reach Antarctica. The contrast with the transatlantic race is total: same boat, different programme, sailing outside coverage zones, with the routing, weather and communications constraints that come with an austral expedition on a 100-footer.

2023 refit and continuation of the programme

The boat underwent a major refit in 2023, ten years after its launch. Meanwhile, Jean-Paul Rivière chairs the Armada de la Liberté association, which organises the Armada de Rouen 2023. The sailing programme continues, still on this same 100-foot carbon boat.

Nomad IV achievements

• RORC Transatlantic Race 2015 (Lanzarote → Grenada) — monohull line honours and monohull record of the event in 10 d 7 h 6 min 59 s.
• 2020 — first all-carbon sailboat to reach Antarctica.
• 2023 — major refit of the boat, ten years after its launch.