When he was elected Sailor of the Decade in 2010, no one in France was surprised: the "little Mozart of sailing" is known for often leading his teams to victory in multihulls. He only entered the IMOCA Class when Jérémie Beyou, skipper of Charal 2, called him to be his co-skipper.
Born in Aix-en-Provence, he started optimist training courses in Marseille and then started racing. A good student, with a career in the merchant navy in mind, he decided to turn to ocean racing. He went up to Port-La-Forêt in Brittany, to join the famous offshore racing center and in 1997, at the age of 24, he won the Solitaire du Figaro. A year later, he helmed his first trimaran named after his sponsor Groupama, with which he won the Transat Jacques-Vabre twice: in 2001 and in 2003.
These victories were followed by numerous successes and records in multihulls, ORMAs, maxi-trimarans and Ultims.
While he was co-skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the Ultim of the Gitana ocean racing team, he participated in the design of the new Manuard design, Charal 2, Jérémie Beyou's second hydrofoil IMOCA, which has the ambition of winning the next Vendée Globe. Following Jérémie Beyou's 3rd place in the last Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, Franck and his crew made the return trip and sailed 558 miles in 24 hours, a record for an IMOCA 60. He is now co-skipper of Jérémie Beyou for the next double-handed races of the IMOCA GLOBE SERIES circuit.
2023: Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 2nd (Charal)
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner (Ultim)
Rolex Fastnet Race - Winner (Ultim)
Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner (Ultim)
Rolex Fastnet Race - Winner (Ultim)
2020: Drheam Cup - Winner (Ultim)
Drheam Cup - Winner (Ultim)
Sailor of the decade
2019: Brest Atlantiques - Winner (Ultim)
Rolex Fastnet Race - Winner (Ultim)
2013: C Class World Champion (Small Cup)
Sailor of the Year
2012: Sailor of the Year
Volvo Ocean Race - Winner on Groupama (VOR60)
2010: Route du Rhum - Winner (Ultim)
Jules Verne Trophy Record
2007: North Atlantic Record
Discovery Route 2007
Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
2006: World Champion (ORMA)
2005: Transat Jacques Vabre - Retired
World Champion (ORMA)
2004: World Champion (ORMA)
2003: Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
World Champion (ORMA)
2001: Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
World Champion (ORMA)
2000: World Champion (ORMA)
1997: Solitaire du Figaro - Winner