Committed and inventive skipper, Armel loves pushing limits on the water, driven by contagious energy. He now carries the cause of the charity Les P’tits Doudous (of which he is patron) on the sails of this striking IMOCA.
Biography — Armel Tripon
Armel Tripon is a true son of Nantes, although his home port has been La Trinité-sur-Mer in Morbihan for several years. Self-taught and passionate, he has sailed on every kind of boat, showing great versatility and a lifelong love of the sea.
Like many ocean adventurers, Armel began competition in the Mini 6.50. After an initial attempt in 2001, he broke through in 2003 by winning the iconic transatlantic race, which opened the door to the demanding Figaro BENETEAU class and a professional career at the highest level. He then stood out in Class40 before stepping into IMOCA. His first major IMOCA result came in 2014 with an impressive fourth place in the Route du Rhum.
From that point he was entrusted with the Multi50 Réauté Chocolat, achieving multiple victories. In 2018 Armel completed his first solo transatlantic multihull crossing on the Route du Rhum — his twentieth Atlantic crossing — and went on to win the Route du Rhum 2018 aboard Réauté Chocolat, a career milestone.
In 2019 he partnered with L'Occitane en Provence and commissioned naval architect Sam Manuard to design a state-of-the-art IMOCA featuring a rounded bow and exceptional performance. In the 2020–2021 Vendée Globe, Armel showcased the boat’s potential, being the fastest between the two equators despite several breakdowns and harsh weather, and finished 11th, underlining the prowess of the new foilers.
After returning to the Ocean Fifty with Les P’tits Doudous, Armel announced his intention to race the 2028 Vendée Globe aboard a lower-impact IMOCA. This innovative project uses downgraded carbon fibers reclaimed from the aerospace industry.
Launched on June 2, 2025, this monohull embodies Armel’s ambition to prove that performance (3rd in the Azimut Runs 2025) and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand, backed by the care teams of Les P’tits Doudous and a collective of corporate patrons.
2025 : Transat Café L'OR - 12th
2025 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 8th
2022 - 5th in the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe2022 - 5th in the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe
2021 - 5th in the Transat Jacques Vabre in Ocean Fifty
2020 - 2021 - 11th in the Vendée Globe
2018 - Winner of the Route du Rhum in Multi50
2017 - 3rd in the Transat Jacques Vabre in Multi50
2014 - 4th in the Route du Rhum in IMOCA60
2012 - 4th in the Transat Québec Saint-Malo in Class40
2003 – Winner of the Mini Transat