"Le Roi Jean" is so named because of his overwhelming domination when he was racing the Figaro circuit. That was 20 years ago, just after the young Le Cam had worn out his oilskins in Concarneau Bay on 'Mervent'."Le Roi Jean" is so named because of his overwhelming domination when he was racing the Figaro circuit. That was 20 years ago, just after the young Le Cam had worn out his oilskins in Concarneau Bay on 'Mervent'.
The family's training aboard this now-famous Armagnac soon bore fruit: among other trophies, Jean scored three victories in the Solitaire du Figaro! This was followed by victories and podium finishes on everything that floats, with one or more hulls, world championship titles (in Formula 40 or FICO), records, transatlantic races... This great Breton talent is as relevant on land to prepare (very) fast boats, as he is at sea to lead them fast and hard to the right place.
Jean never seems to leave the limelight. In 2015, he was crowned IMOCA world champion, finished 6ᵉ in the 2016 Vendée Globe and finished on the podium again (3ᵉ) in the 2018 Bermuda 1000 Race.
In 2019, Jean Le Cam completed a tour of Europe to meet his partners before competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre with Nicolas Troussel aboard his faithful IMOCA 'Hubert' put, for the occasion, under the colours of CORUM L'Épargne.
In 2020, Jean is putting together a Vendée Globe project and embarking on his fifth adventure. The skipper battled at the head of the fleet throughout the race, demonstrating that experience and knowledge of his boat could make all the difference on a circumnavigation. He finished 4ᵉ of the event after benefiting from a 16h15 bonus following the rescue of Kevin Escoffier.
The main reason I'm taking part is to ensure that I qualify for the next Vendée Globe. The sole aim will be to finish. The timing is tight - we'll have launched just over a month before the start - so it'll be important to be careful. There will be a lot of aspects to validate and make reliable... Fortunately, we're lucky enough to have Éric Bellion's boat, which is a sistership and allows us to anticipate as many aspects as possible beforehand.
It's a course that we're used to doing as a delivery trip, as almost all the transatlantic races are sailed from East to West, from France to the West Indies. We usually do the delivery trips as part of a crew. This time, it will be solo, racing, and above all, it will be the first race on my new boat!
For me, it doesn't really matter. Whether it's single-handed, double-handed or crewed, the division of tasks on board is not the same, but I'm still having the same fun.
It's going to be really tight in terms of time after the launch, so I've decided that I won't be taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre. It's true that I won't have to worry about the performance of my boat during this race. Perhaps I'll also be a little fresher than the others... Even though I've been working tirelessly on the boat for two years and that's hard work too!
2020
Vendée Globe - 4th (80d 13h 44m 55s - 16h15 of compensation)
2019
Transat Jacques Vabre - 13th
Défi Azimut - 12th
2018
Bermudes 1000 Race - 3rd
2016
Vendée Globe - 6th
2015
IMOCA World Champion
Barcelona World Race - 1st
2013
Transat Jacques Vabre - Winner
2012
Vendée Globe - 5th
2006
Route du Rhum - 2nd
2005
Transat Jacques Vabre - 3rd
2004
Vendée Globe - 2nd
2010
Transat Ag2r - 6th
2008
Transat Ag2r - 4th
2001
Transat Jacques Vabre - 4th
1999
Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
1996
Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
1994
Transat Ag2r - Winner
1994
Solitaire du Figaro - Winner
Name: TOUT COMMENCE EN FINISTÈRE - ARMOR LUX
Architect: David Raison
Building: 2023, Persico Marine
Launching: 09/30/2023
Length: 18,28m
Beam: NC
Draught: 4,50m
Weight: NC
Mast height: 29m
Mast type: wing-mast
Foils: no
Upwind: NC
Downwind: NC
Department of Finistère
With 2263 km of coastline, Finistère is France's largest maritime department. Famous skippers live or were born here and continue to emerge in its centres of excellence. Like Tout commence en Finistère, Jean's project unites the region around its identity and its values of performance and solidarity.
Armor-Lux
For 80 years, Armor-Lux has been perpetuating exceptional expertise in the manufacture of quality clothing. It symbolises an art of living, marine-inspired collections, authentic, sustainable clothing and a strong commitment to preserving jobs.
His commitment: The ASE (child welfare agency)
In the Finistère department, 2,500 minors are placed under the protection of the Departmental Council and almost as many are looked after at home. The départemental council has made child protection one of its top priorities, to better protect and support the children in its care. Jean Le Cam has decided, alongside the Finistère department, to defend the cause of children by taking them on board in his Vendée Globe 2024/25 adventure.
