Basile Bourgnon competes in Route du Rhum

Basile Bourgnon, a 24-year-old sailor, has begun his participation in the Route du Rhum, a prestigious solo transatlantic race, competing in the Ocean Fifty category. The race is known for its challenging conditions and attracts elite sailors from around the world.

Family legacy in sailing

Bourgnon is the son of Laurent Bourgnon, a sailor who won the Route du Rhum twice before disappearing in 2015. Bourgnon described the event as "the transatlantic of my dreams" and noted the family connection, saying he learned after his father's disappearance that Laurent loved the race.

Preparation and boat details

Bourgnon, who is 1.95 meters tall with broad shoulders, a round head, and ocean blue eyes, was preparing near Trinité-sur-Mer (Morbihan), where his parents built a house near the port and the sea. He was checking the condition of the sails, the rig tension, and the steering system on his boat, Edenred 5, a latest generation Ocean Fifty (15-meter multihull).

Sailing background and early experiences

Bourgnon discovered his passion for sailing in Tahiti, where his father, Laurent, was the most decorated sailor on the Route du Rhum with two general victories (1994, 1998). Laurent Bourgnon turned his back on long-distance sailing in 2008 to focus on family life, taking his wife and four children on a world tour by catamaran.

Career and training

After returning to Brittany and obtaining his baccalaureate, Bourgnon followed in his father's footsteps by participating in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019, in a duo with Emmanuel Le Roch, under the colors of Edenred. "Emmanuel had the choice to take someone else and he offered me a hand. He knew I was passionate and wanted to make it my profession," Bourgnon said.

Support and recognition

Le Roch, who became the sports director of the project after his last transatlantic in double with his young teammate in 2025 (Transat Café L'Or, 5th), said, "Basile has the competition in his blood and doesn't give up but I think that's family." Now alone at the helm of his trimaran, Bourgnon has achieved good results in 2026, winning his first solo race, the Drheam Cup in Cherbourg, and the 24 h Ultim in Lorient.

Competitor perspectives

Léonard Legrand, a competitor starting from Saint-Malo on the Ocean Fifty Sodebo, said, "He has a very, very good maritime sense. For me, he is the most serious competitor of the Route du Rhum." Legrand added that he became friends with Bourgnon on Thomas Coville's Ultim, formerly very close to Laurent Bourgnon.

Bourgnon's goals and confidence

Seven years after his debut in offshore racing, the young Breton sets off on Sunday towards Guadeloupe with the label of favorite and asserts himself as "a competitor who does not like to waste time." "Today, I have the tools to be performant, a budget that allows me to sail and an experienced structure. This Route du Rhum is a discovery, but I'm not going to make an appearance," he said determined.