Thomas
RUYANT

No matter the class, Thomas Ruyant could be called the king of transatlantic races. With six victories across four different classes (including three in IMOCA), he is one of the top contenders in the class.

Thomas Ruyant, originally from Malo-les-Bains in the Hauts-de-France, discovered sailing in his childhood, alongside his family. A passionate athlete, he also enjoys running and ice hockey. Today, he is one of the most accomplished skippers in competitive sailing, with six transatlantic victories across four different classes: the 2009 Mini Transat, the 2010 Route du Rhum in Class40, the 2018 Transat AG2R in Figaro 2 with Adrien Hardy, the 2021 and 2023 Transat Jacques Vabre on an IMOCA with Morgan Lagravière, and the 2022 Route du Rhum in solo, aboard an IMOCA.

In the early 2000s, competitive sailing caught his attention as he raced singlehanded dinghies like the Laser, then in First Class 8. He later moved on to the Mumm 30, where he discovered offshore racing with teams like Défi Jean Bart and Courrier Dunkerque.

In 2009, he won the Mini Transat 6.50, sailing from La Rochelle to Salvador de Bahia. The following year, he triumphed in the Route du Rhum in the Class40 category, after a legendary Atlantic crossing. This victory capped off a stellar season where he dominated the entire circuit. Eager to perfect his solo offshore racing skills, he then spent three seasons racing in the Figaro.

In 2015, Thomas was called upon by the association Le Souffle du Nord to compete in the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe. In his first IMOCA race, the Transat Jacques Vabre, he finished a commendable fourth place with his friend Adrien Hardy. When the Vendée Globe started, he was determined to compete with the best and convey the message of the NGO Projet Imagine, which highlights everyday heroes. Unfortunately, his progress was halted when his blue and yellow IMOCA broke apart near New Zealand. However, he did not abandon his boat and endured two days of distress, with the engine running on low power, his hand constantly on the alert button, before managing to reach the shore—how he did so remains a mystery.

After this setback, Thomas committed himself to preparing for the 2020 Vendée Globe under optimal conditions, a goal he achieved when he finished in 5th place. He spent two-thirds of the race in the top three and demonstrated exceptional tenacity over the 80 days of the race.

Since then, he has continued to rack up podium finishes in the IMOCA Globe Series, racing both in crewed events like The Ocean Race Europe and in double-handed or solo formats. Recently, he claimed victory in the Route du Rhum after a fierce battle with Charlie Dalin on Apivia.

Never slowing down, Thomas launched his new IMOCA, FOR PEOPLE, with one clear goal: to win the Vendée Globe 2024. While preparing for this ultimate challenge, he embarked on the 2023 season with his trusted co-skipper Morgan Lagravière, racing on his brand-new boat. After a season filled with twists, including victories and unexpected repairs, he set a new record for the longest distance covered in 24 hours solo on a 60-foot monohull during the Retour à La Base, only to be hampered by a damaged mainsail that hurt his chances of a top result.

In early 2024, TRRacing, the entity supporting Thomas Ruyant and Sam Goodchild’s projects, launched a campaign with a strong message: “We are all vulnerable.” To highlight this social and environmental cause, the two IMOCA boats adopted the name "Vulnerable." Under its new colors, Thomas finished every IMOCA race in 2024 in the top 7, including the Vendée Globe.

In 2025, the Northern skipper continues his journey, participating in the Course des Caps and The Ocean Race Europe in crewed events.