Journalist-sailor? Sailor-journalist? Fabrice Amedeo has decided not to choose between the two wakes he has been enthusiastically carving out for himself for some time. However, the call of the open ocean has gained the upper hand over recent years, prompting him to frequent the pontoons of La Trinité sur Mer more often than the newsroom at Le Figaro magazine.
Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, Transat Jacques Vabre, first off in Class40 and then in Imoca, Fabrice has navigated his way along through application and hard work, making the summit of his own personal Everest in the winter of 2016-2017. 11th in the Vendée Globe 2016-17, he joined the inner circle of circumnavigators, commanding respect and carrying along a great many people with him in his journey to make a childhood dream come true.
A few months later, still driven by a desire to progress, Fabrice bought a ‘foiler’, one of the latest-generation flying boats. Sticking to the idea of pushing the envelope and also sharing his salty adventure with as many people as possible, he took the start of La Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe in 2018, a year they both celebrated their 40th birthday.
A competitor at heart, Fabrice Amedeo had to abandon the 2020-21 Vendée Globe due to a computer problem while sailing at the entrance to the Southern Ocean. "It's a decision that was difficult to take, but I accept it. I know I will bounce back." After a winter refit, the boat is back in the water under new colors, those of Nexans and Art & Fenêtres. After spending the first half of the season in the yard due to a violent backstay, the skipper, accompanied by the young Figaro racer Loïs Berrehar, finished tenth in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021.
Following major modifications to his IMOCA with the installation of large C foils, Fabrice is back on the water in 2022 as of the first race of the season with the aim of racking up the miles and taking part in all the qualifying races for the 2024 Vendée Globe, a goal that he is still aiming for. Unfortunately, the skipper was forced to abandon the Route du Rhum and his boat, following a fire on board.
But Fabrice did not give up. Still supported by his partners, he found an IMOCA, Arnaud Boissières' old boat, which he left to find in Guadeloupe. He will be back on the water in 2023 on this new boat.
2022: Route du Rhum - withdrawal
Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 17th
Vendée Arctique - 19th
Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 19th
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - 10th
2020-21: Vendée Globe - ABD
2020: Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 9th
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 9th
Défi Azimut - 14th
Bermuda 1000 Race - 7th
2018: Route du Rhum - 12th
Azimut Challenge - 8th
Drheam-Cup 700 - Withdrawal
Monaco Globe Series - 3rd
Bermuda 1000 Race - 4th
2017: Transat Jacques Vabre - 12th
Défi Azimut - 8th
2016: Vendée Globe - 11th
Transat NY - Vendée - 8th
2015: Transat St Barth - Port La Foret - 2nd
Transat Jacques Vabre - 8th IMOCA
2014: Route du Rhum - 9th Class40
2013: Transat Jacques Vabre - 6th Class 40
2012: Solidaire du Chocolat - 3rd Class40
Transat Quebec Saint Malo - 4th Class 40
2008: Route du Rhum - 26th Class40
Solitaire du Figaro - Withdrawal
AG2R - Withdrawal