In 2026, Paul Meilhat cemented his status as a leading figure in offshore sailing by winning the inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic aboard United by the Ocean. After a particularly close battle, his crew emerged victorious after 7 days, 23 hours, and 39 seconds of racing, adding another major victory to his record.
This achievement is the latest in a career marked by consistency and excellence. Born in 1982, Paul Meilhat first trained in Olympic sailing—in the Optimist, Laser, and 49er classes—before joining the Figaro circuit in 2008. In 2014, he won the Transat AG2R La Mondiale with Gwénolé Gahinet, a victory that truly launched his career at the highest level.
He then joined the IMOCA circuit in 2015 with the SMA team. During the 2016 Vendée Globe, while he was among the leaders, a failure of the keel cylinder forced him to retire after 52 days of racing. Far from discouraging him, this setback marked the beginning of a remarkable comeback to the forefront. In 2017, he racked up a string of victories, notably winning the ArMen Race, the Rolex Fastnet Race, and the Défi Azimut, before finishing second in the Transat Jacques Vabre.
In 2018, Paul Meilhat achieved recognition by winning the Route du Rhum aboard a boat without foils. This victory, earned against competitors equipped with newer, higher-performance monohulls, stands as one of the greatest achievements of his career. He was then crowned IMOCA champion in 2021, cementing his place among France’s top skippers.
As part of the Biotherm project, he competed in The Ocean Race 2023, finishing in fourth place. He went on to win The Ocean Race Europe in 2025, before placing fifth in the 2024–2025 Vendée Globe. In 2026, his victory in the first edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic, with the United by the Ocean crew, capped off a career marked by solo and crewed performances, resilience, and dedication at the highest level of offshore racing.
2025: The Ocean Race Europe - Winner
2024–2025: Vendée Globe - 5th
2024: The Transat CIC - 15th
2023: Transat Jacques Vabre - Did not finish
2023: Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération – 20th
2023: The Ocean Race – 4th
2022: Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe – 6th
2022: Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération – ABD (crew)
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre – 2nd
2021: Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération – Winner
2021: Rolex Fastnet Race – Winner