There are stories of the sea that transcend mere competition. That of Romain Attanasio andThere are stories of the sea that transcend mere competition. That of Romain Attanasio andMaxime Sorel is one such story.
In the autumn of 2024, during the Défi Azimut, Romain's IMOCA Fortinet – Best Western wasthe victim of a dismasting. It was a heavy blow, especially as it came just a fewmonths before the start of the Vendée Globe. His dream of sailing around the world seemed to be crumbling. Butin this moment of doubt, a gesture of solidarity changed everything: Maxime, a competitor butabove all a friend, offered him a replacement mast. Thanks to this rare generosity, Romain was able toget back on his feet, repair his boat and line up at the start of the Vendée Globe. He completedhis round-the-world trip, carried by this chain of mutual aid that is also part of the beauty of ocean racing.
This ordeal gave rise to a solid friendship, a bond forged in trust andmutual respect. Today, this story is being written by two voices. In 2025, Romain and Maximewill team up aboard the IMOCA Fortinet – Best Western to share a newjoint adventure.
Their season will naturally begin in Lorient, on the Défi Azimut 2025, beforecontinuing with the Transat Café de l'Or. Beyond performance, this is the story of anencounter, of solidarity that became partnership, and of a shared passion that drives themever further across the ocean.
A unique duo, where friendship and challenge become one.
A civil engineer by training, Maxime Sorel made his first tacks off Port Mer in Cancale. He started out in light sailing and got a taste for the open sea on Pascal Quintin's Multi50. He completed his first transatlantic race during the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe 2014 on board a Class40, which he finished in 1st place in the Class40 Vintage. Then his honorary sponsor, V and B, built him a Mach 40.3 to continue the adventure together.
After a year 2016 that fell short of his ambitions, Maxime redoubled his efforts and began optimising his boat at the beginning of 2017. The work paid off and the skipper won the prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre.
It was during the 2018 Route du Rhum that Maxime and his partner V and B announced their intention to be on the starting grid for the 2020 Vendée Globe. The Department of Mayenne then joined the adventure and the skipper made his entry into the monohull class, the IMOCA.
After only two years of preparation on board his new boat, Maxime completed his first round-the-world race in 82 days in 10th place. The contract was more than fulfilled, and the skipper returned, true to form, with the same thirst for adventure!
So in 2021, Monbana is strengthening the Mayenne alliance a little more and a new Vendée Globe project is being prepared on board a new, latest generation IMOCA: the V and B - Monbana - Mayenne. The aim is to finish in the top 5 of the future round the world race.
In parallel with this new sailing project, Maxime will attempt to climb the Everest of the land (after having completed the Everest of the sea in 2020/21) in order to carry the colours of Vaincre la Mucoviscidose, the association he has been defending since 2014 and for which he is the national sponsor since 2019, and thus achieve what he calls: My Double Everest.
In 2023, he will return to the race with Christopher Pratt for the second half of the double season.
2024-2025: Vendée Globe - Withdrew on 15/11/2024
2024: The Transat CIC - 5th
2023: Transat Jacques Vabre - 8th
Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 8th
2022: Route du Rhum - 5th
Défi Azimut - 4th
2020-21 : Vendée Globe - 10th
2020 : Défi Azimut - 11th
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 16th
Défi Azimut - 9th
2018 : Grand Prix Guyader - 10th
2017 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 1st Class 40
Rolex Fasnet Race - 1st in Class40
2016 : Normandy Channel Race - 3rd Class 40
2015 : Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 - 2nd Class 40
2014 : Route du rhum destination Guadeloupe - 1st Vintage Class40 and 23rd overall
Guyader Trophy - 1st Vintage Class40 and 8th overall
Vintage Class40 World Champion