A professional skipper for some fifteen years, this self-made sailor has always managed to do a lot with a little. Determined, autonomous, authentic and talented, Louis knows perfectly well that everything comes to those who know how to work and train.A professional skipper for some fifteen years, this self-made sailor has always managed to do a lot with a little. Determined, autonomous, authentic and talented, Louis knows perfectly well that everything comes to those who know how to work and train.
This Norman is not a fan of the beaten track. Bold, curious and thoughtful, he doesn't see his life as an ocean racer without technological and strategic challenges.
Offshore, he's like a fish in water. It's a world that he masters perfectly and loves to help others discover, to share all the pleasures and infinite subtleties of ocean sailing.
On land, he's an entrepreneur. He has bold ideas and knows how to gather a close-knit team around him to bring his projects to fruition. Louis is notably behind the design of the Lift40, an innovative Class40 that won the last Route du Rhum.
In 2021, the skipper joins the IMOCA fleet after taking a daring gamble: buying a burnt-out boat. In 2020, he decided to acquire Clément Giraud's former IMOCA, which had accidentally caught fire in Le Havre just a few days before the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2019. After a repair and optimisation programme, the skipper will take the helm of this 60-foot boat for the double-handed transatlantic race in 2021, accompanied by Marie Tabarly.
Supported by Fives and Lantana Environnement, Louis Duc will be taking part in all the solo races in 2022 and will do the same in the double-handed race in 2023 alongside Remi Aubrun, his co-skipper.
Certainly the same as everyone else: to get the boat back in one piece after a first transatlantic crossing and to validate another stage in the preparation for our round-the-world voyage in 2024. I don't really have a sporting objective as such, but to do two transatlantic races in a row, going from double-handed to single-handed, is already a challenge. What's more, this will be the last major race before preparing for the Vendée Globe, the only solo event before the winter refit.
It would be easier to do it the other way round, because if we don't have any problems going out, we should have some on the way back! (Laughs)
I've already done it after the Route du Rhum, because we were on our way back for the delivery trip. The difference is that this year, I've got three people in the team, so if we break anything in the Transat Jacques Vabre, they should be able to deal with it in the West Indies. It's up to us to make sure it happens early in the race to give them time to prepare! (Laughs) Personally, I'd like to rest a little before setting off again, because although it won't be the first time I've taken my boat behind a race, usually it's in quiet mode. This time, I'm going to have to be quick!
We'd really like to pick up some chocolate at the finish, so that we can use it for something! (Laughs) We don't have any visible commitment to our project, but we're very careful about it. We work a lot around the circular economy, both for financial gain and out of conviction. I've always worked like that, and it's even the basis of our project with our salvaged boat. We also have our partner Lantana, who is very committed. So we have strong values, even if we don't show them in our sails.
2023
Rolex Fastnet Race - 22th
2022
Route du Rhum - 27th
Vendée Arctique - 8th
Transat Jacques Vabre - 14th
2018
Route du Rhum - 18th
2017
Rolex Fastnet Race - 5th
2016
English Transat - 2nd
2015
Transat Jacques Vabre - 3rd
2011
Rolex Fastnet Race - 2nd
2008
English Transat - 4th
2019
Transat Jacques Vabre - 5th
2019
Transat Jacques Vabre - 5th
2009
Solitaire du Figaro
Name: Les Enfants de la Balle
Architect: Farr Yacht Design
Building: 2006, CDK Technologies, Port La Forêt
Launching: 30/09/2006
Previous names: PRB, Akena Vérendas, Initiatives-Coeur, Bastide - Otio, Maître CoQ, FORTIL, Kostum - Lantana Paysage
Lenght: 18,28m
Beam: 5,85m
Draught: 4,50m
Weight: NC
Mast height: 29m
Mast type: Mât-aile
Foils: no
Upwind: 300 m²
Donwind: 600 m²
Fives Group
Fives designs and supplies machinery, process equipment and production lines for the world's leading manufacturers.
For over 200 years, the Group has been designing the breakthrough solutions and technologies that make up industry. From the steam engine two centuries ago to the 4.0 factory of the 21st century, FIVES is constantly innovating to make industry more efficient and sustainable. Present in 25 countries, close to its customers, the Group has built its leadership on the regionalisation of its expertise. By meeting the specific needs of each market locally, FIVES combines economic and environmental performance. Spearheading the 4th industrial revolution, the revolution in decarbonisation, electromobility and the energy mix, FIVES is always one innovation ahead, thanks to its ability to anticipate customer needs.
