A mad talent, an iron will, a man raised in the roughness of North Brittany, Yann is one of those respected Breton sailors.
At a very young age, the Briochin sailor chose the offshore route rather than the school one. At the age of 23, he took part in his first Solitaire du Figaro, his first love of ocean racing, which he raced 17 times and won 3 times...
A solo sailor at heart, Yann discovered the adventure of double-handed racing in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2007 and won the Multi 50 alongside Erwan Le Roux in 2013. He doubled up on this transatlantic race in 2017 in the Imoca class with Jean-Pierre Dick.
His experience was also forged in multihulls on the Jules Verne Trophy with Orange and also on the Route du Rhum in 2014 with the MOD 70 Paprec Recyclage entrusted by Jean-Pierre Dick. The story continued with the gentleman skipper who entrusted him with his IMOCA in the colours of UCAR-St Michel and with which Yann Eliès finished the 2018 Route du Rhum in 2nd place.
In 2019, he won the Transat Jacques Vabre with Charlie Dalin on the brand new IMOCA Apivia. Two years later, he took fourth place in the Route du Café aboard the Juan K. ARKEA PAPREC design, sailed by Sébastien Simon.
At the beginning of 2023, he embarked on The Ocean Race alongside Team Malizia for the second leg between Cape Verde and Cape Town. Then, he will continue the season on board the brand new Paprec Arkéa skippered by Yoann Richomme.
2023: Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 6th (on Paprec Arkéa with Yoann Richomme)
2022: Trophée BPGO - 5th (Figaro)
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - 4th (Arkéa Paprec)
Défi Azimut - 5th (Arkéa Paprec)
Rolex Fastnet Race - 4th (Arkéa Paprec)
2019: Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner (Apivia)
2018: Route du Rhum-Dest.Guadeloupe - 2nd
2017: Transat Jacques Vabre - 1st
Vendée Globe - 5th
2016: Transat NY-Vendée - 11th
2015: Solo Maître CoQ - 1st
Solitaire du Figaro - 1st
2015: Transat Jacques Vabre - 3rd
2014: La Route du Rhum 2014 - 7th Ultime
2013: La Solitaire du Figaro - 1st
Transat Jacques Vabre 2013 - Winner Multi50, E.Le Roux
2012: La Solitaire du Figaro - 1st
2009: La Solitaire du Figaro - 2nd
2008: Vendée Globe - Retired
2006: Champion de France de Course au Large
2005: Jules Verne Trophy - Orange 2
2004: Champion de France de Course au Large
La Solitaire du Figaro - 2nd
Générali Solo - 1st
2003: Tour de France à la Voile - 2nd
2002: Jules Verne Trophy - Orange