A passion born from a very young age
Yann Eliès is a French professional sailor and skipper born in Saint-Brieuc in 1974. Lulled by the nautical world - his father and grandfather are fans of ocean racing - he made his debut in 1998 on the Figaro Bénéteau circuit, aboard Generali Insurance Group . He began to break through on this circuit in 2001. His experience aboard the maxi-trimaran of Cam Lewis Team Adventure on"The Race" in 2001, makes him discover the great outdoors and the pleasures of ocean sailing. Starting in 2007, he sails on his new 60-foot monohull, Generali whose godfather is Zinedine Zidane.
He was discovered by the general public following his participation in the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe. It was during this solo voyage around the world that he fell from his boat, on December 18, 2008, in southern Australia, while carrying out repairs on his gennaker. He was seriously injured in the femur, but is still safe, thanks to his life line. He will be recovered 3 days later by a frigate, his boat, will sink before his team can recover him. Two years later, his partnership with Generali came to an end, as the skipper wanted to continue in the Vendée Globe and the brand preferred to refocus on the Figaro.
First participation in the Route du Rhum
It was Absolute Dreamer, Jean-Pierre Dick's team, who contacted him to offer him to take part in the Transat aboard the MOD 70 Paprec Recyclage, replacing Jean-Pierre Dick, the skipper of Paprec, who prefers to concentrate on the next Vendée Globe. This will therefore be Yann Eliès' first participation in the Route du Rhum but also his first solo sailing aboard a multihull. He has sailed this type of boat before, but always with a crew. To cross the ocean alone aboard an Ultimate is a real challenge. " It's stressful, but you can't say no to Yann. With a little late preparation, we are in a position of outsiders ."
A regular in solo racing
In 2002 then in 2005, he won the Jules Verne Trophy with Bruno Peyron on Orange and Orange II . In 2004 and 2006, he became French solo ocean racing champion. In 2008 and again in 2009, he took part in the Vendée Globe. Finally, in 2012 and 2013, he is double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, 33 years after his father, Patrick Eliès, winner of the 1979 edition which was called at the time The Race of Dawn . He is the first to win two consecutive races since the Figaro-Bénéteau monotype. In 2013, he won the Transat Jacques Vabre with Erwan Le Roux in the Multi50.
He has 15 participations, 9 stage wins and joins the club of the three winners of La Solitaire, composed of Jérémie Beyou, Jean Le Cam, Michel Desjoyeaux and Philippe Poupon3 wins.
