Loick Peyron – Keynote Speaker

Loïck Peyron is one of the most celebrated yachtsmen in France, and one of the most decorated off-shore sailors of all time. His success has spanned single-handed, two person and crewed ocean racing, right through to the America’s Cup.

He is particularly famous for winning many races in the 1990s on board his trimaran Fujicolor. He won the ORMA Championship four times in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2002, the STAR transatlantic race three times, and the transatlantic Jacques Vabre twice. In early 2012 he won the Jules Verne Trophy, the prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht, breaking Franck Cammas’ previous record by 2 days.

Whenever he is behind the helm, he is unmistakably one of the most brilliant French sailors, and is always thirsty for new adventures and challenges. He is a meticulous and innovative person and endowed with an exceptional talent recognised by his peers. He is the “Man” of all races and has a phenomenal prize list including; 43 crossings of the Atlantic Ocean among which are 18 solo races; 3 World Tours; 5 championships ORMA; 16 victories in Grand Prix; 3 victories on the solo English Transatlantic race; 2 victories on the Transatlantic race Jacques Vabre in 1999 and 2005; 2 victories on the Lighthouses Race; 8 victories on the Europe Tour; 7 victories on the Clairefontaine Trophies and 2 victories on the Golden Bowl.

In 2008, he won the English Transatlantic race for the third time in a historic performance, the transatlantic race between Plymouth and Boston. Peyron raced, under the colours of the Sultanate of Oman, the 2009-2010 catamarans X40 circuit as helmsman of Masirah Oman Sail, then the D35 circuit in Switzerland as helmsman of Okalys-Corum, and finally he won the Barcelona Race with Jean-Pierre Dick in 2011 with thr Virbac-Paprec boat.

In 2010, he sailed in the 33rd America’s Cup as part of the Alinghi Team, in the roles of ‘floater’ in race 1 and relief helmsman in race 2. Alinghi were defeated by the American challenger BMW Oracle Racing.

He participated in the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2013 with his brother Bruno Peyron, and the project ‘Energy Team’.

In November 2014, he won the Route du Rhum single-handed transat on Banque Populaire VII maxi trimaran. He set the new record, travelling from Brittany to Guadeloupe in 7 days 15 hours 8 minutes and 32 seconds (22.93 kts average speed)