French sailor William Mathelin Moreaux, preparing for his third Route du Rhum in Class40, announced on Thursday that he will join the Imoca circuit in 2027 to prepare for the Vendée Globe 2028. He revealed that he has been working on this transition for several years and confirmed his intention to take part in the next Vendée Globe, which he missed in 2024 while competing in Class40. Moreaux has been competing in Class40 since 2017, achieving 16th place in the Route du Rhum in 2018 and 2022, as well as third place in the Transat Café L’Or 2025. He now wants to move beyond Class40 and believes this is the right time for a new challenge. Moreaux began working on his Imoca project last year through a partnership with the association Les Invincibles, which is dedicated to fighting Charcot’s disease. He credited his current sponsor in Class40, Patapain, for allowing him to develop the project without rushing. Moreaux and his team approached potential partners and looked into acquiring a boat, aiming to finalize the purchase before the Route du Rhum starts. While he did not disclose the specific Imoca he is targeting, he mentioned they initially considered a catamaran but found that all good ones were already sold. They then focused on foilers—boats that use hydrofoils to lift out of the water for increased speed—seeking one that is technically accessible and can be sailed quickly after the Route du Rhum. He described finding a high-performance boat that had already completed a Vendée Globe, was well-maintained, and fit their budget. Moreaux stated the annual budget for the Vendée Globe campaign is aimed at 1.5 million euros per year until the end of the race, totaling 3 million euros. This includes depreciation, as the boat was purchased by private investors who set up a structure to which Moreaux rents it. He mentioned that nearly two-thirds of the budget is already secured by five partners, though he will reveal their names later. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a relationship with Patapain, as the current sponsorship agreement with them expires at the end of 2026. Moreaux noted that the funding model for the project is similar to that of sailor Lazare, where Les Invincibles does not spend any money, and partners agree to give up some visibility to support the association. He explained that the focus is on highlighting Les Invincibles as much as possible, though a co-naming model like the one with Patapain this year is not the main goal. Looking ahead, Moreaux expects the boat to be acquired by the end of October, allowing the team to take control of it, rearm it, and put it under their colors by the end of January. The first major race will be the Fastnet, with a co-skipper from the Transat Café L’Or, who has experience with Imoca boats. Future events include the Azimut Challenge, Transat Café L’Or, Return to La Base, a shipyard event, and the Transat CIC. Moreaux expressed uncertainty about whether they will participate in the New York-Vendée or bring the boat back with a full crew. He expressed a desire to compete in two Vendée Globe races and noted that the timing for the first one is quite short. He aims to launch a more ambitious campaign afterward, possibly with a different boat and more ambitious goals.