Violette Dorange's sailing progress

Violette Dorange, a 25-year-old sailor, has continued to achieve good results this season while skippering her first Imoca, a high-performance racing yacht equipped with foils. This season, her focus is on confirming her capabilities in the upcoming Route du Rhum, a prestigious solo transatlantic race.

Her sailing journey

In just a few years, Dorange has evolved from competing in a small Optimist dinghy across the English Channel to completing the solo round-the-world race without stops, finishing in 25th place in 90 days. Her journey gained her attention through videos shared online, earning her a pop culture following dubbed "the Everest of the seas."

Joining a professional team

After returning from her race, Dorange joined the Initiatives Coeur team, first sailing alongside British sailor Samantha Davies and later becoming the main skipper in 2026. She describes this as a transformative experience, involving intense training and the realization of how much more she had to learn about sailing.

Learning new sailing techniques

Dorange had to adapt to a new type of sailing on an Imoca launched in 2022, which features foils—lateral appendages that lift the boat out of the water to reduce resistance. She notes that this technology allows the boat to sail much faster but requires constant vigilance to avoid injury during high-speed impacts.

Performance and preparation

This year, Dorange secured two podium finishes in the 1000 Race and the Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne, and placed fifth in the Azimut Challenge. She attributes her improved performance to better boat preparation and the support of a team that includes an engineer, helping her analyze her training and optimize the boat’s performance.

Ambitions for Route du Rhum

For her debut in the Route du Rhum, Dorange aims for a top 10 finish. She acknowledges that newer Imoca boats may have a technological edge, but she believes her team’s focus on optimizing their boat’s reliability and performance can help her compete effectively.

Supporting a cause

Throughout the race, Dorange will continue sharing videos of her journey, supporting the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque association through the Initiatives Coeur project. However, she is now also expected to make a significant impact on the sporting side of the race.