Passionate about sailing since his childhood in Normandy, he began his professional sporting career in Class40, where he raced in numerous transatlantic races and honed his experience of the open sea and the management of ambitious technical projects. He looks back very positively on his Class40 years from 2013 to 2017.
In 2017, Manuel Cousin moved to IMOCA with his sights set on his first Vendée Globe in 2020-2021. He completed his first round-the-world race with perseverance and skill, finishing in 23rd place on 20 February 2021 with a broken keel jack, among other things!
In 2021, Manuel and his team decided to upgrade his IMOCA with daggerboards and committed to the 2024 Vendée Globe campaign. He finished first in the qualifying rounds for non-new boats, earning his ticket to his second Vendée Globe, which he finished in 31st place after quite a few adventures.
A committed, approachable and passionate skipper, Manuel combines technical skills, team management and a human vision of the sport. With the Coup de Pouce 2025-2029 project, he is now embarking on a new adventure: preparing for the 2028 Vendée Globe on a new IMOCA!
His ambition was to complete a third solo round-the-world race, but this time on an IMOCA foiling yacht! Now that this has been achieved, Manuel will be at the Défi Azimut 2025 at the helm of his new foiling yacht, flying high the values of solidarity and daring that characterise his adventure.
2024: Vendée Globe - 31th
Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 17th
2023: Transat Jacques Vabre - 25th
Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 24th
2022: Route du Rhum - 32ème
Défi Azimut - 22ème
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - 18th
2020-21 : Vendée Globe - 23ème (103j 18h 15min 40s)
2020 : Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 15th
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 22th
Défi Azimut - 18th
2018: Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 14th
2017: Transat Jacques Vabre - 11th