On the way to the MINI TRANSAT 2025
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On the way to the MINI TRANSAT 2025 〰️ click here 〰️
BENOIT MARIE
FLYING SKIPPER - INSPIRED ENGINEER
Both a sailor and an engineer, Benoît is a multi-platform flying skipper. His constant desire to innovate allows him to sail on high-performance boats: Ocean Fifty, International Moth, A-Class, C-Class, ETF26, Iceboat, Ultim, …
MINI 6.50
His first love, his childhood dream.
15 years of dreaming, 2 years of preparation, a record solo leg of 4,000 nautical miles over 18 days without communication, his very first transatlantic crossing, and… a first major victory!
It was also the direct application of his wind tunnel research on Mini sails at the University of Auckland, with the creation of a custom sail set that delivered convincing performance.
An adventure of exceptional intensity and a success that launched his career as a professional skipper.
« One day I will come back to this race on a boat that I imagined »
After racing all kind of inshore and offshore boats, in 2025 Benoit is back as the main skipper of a fully foiling Mini 6.50 that he designed alongside Sam Manuard and after wining 100% of the races of the Mini season, he will set off for his second Mini Transat.
INTERNATIONAL MOTH
The International Moth is the fastest dinghy in the world and has popularized foiling in competition. The open class allows innovation, and its impressive performance attracts the elite of the sailing world: the polar speeds achieved are comparable to those of 60′ ORMA trimarans!
Its instability makes sailing and learning challenging, for a high-level class that progresses on average by one knot per year thanks to development work carried out by sailors worldwide.
Benoît, double French Champion, finished 7th at the 2018 World Championships, establishing himself as the first French sailor to reach this rank since 2015.
OCEAN FIFTY
High-speed offshore racing has always been my dream and ultimate goal. Launching a project on an Ocean Fifty trimaran was the first step, and it was with great pleasure that I participated in the Transat Jacques Vabre"
Benoit chose on his boat as co-skipper Armel Tripon and together they achieved a solid 5th place.
“Now that I'm good at handling this boat, I would like to start the construction of a new, innovative boat, combining all my experience and my ideas as an engineer!”
ULTIM
The Jules Verne Trophy - my ultimate dream". In 2017 François Gabart brought him one step closer to his goal by inviting him to join his crew on the trimaran Macif for The Bridge transatlantic race that they won together.
Crossing the oceans at car-like speeds remains a unique experience, and crewed sailing is an excellent way to improve coordination and communication on board. These boats are pioneers in the world of offshore racing, where much is still to be explored, and for Benoît, who often thinks “outside the box,” it was an exceptional opportunity.
C CLASS CATAMARAN
The appeal of the C-Class lay in the use of its rigid wing.
Benoît was fortunate to be invited to helm the legendary “Cogito” from Axon Racing, owned by Benoît Morelle, during the 2015 Little Cup (C-Class World Championship – formerly the Petite America’s Cup).
This experience led him to the final against Franck Cammas and Louis Viat’s Groupama, earning him the title of Vice World Champion on a 21-year-old yacht!
In terms of personal technical development, working with the rigid wing was extremely enriching, particularly for gaining a better understanding of the aerodynamic drag sensations of the rig.
A CLASS CATAMARAN
The A-Class is the benchmark single-handed foiling catamaran. It combines technical development with a high-level international circuit. The A-Class sails on “four points”: the two front foils and the two rudders, similar to the Nacra 17 used in the Olympic Games.
Benoît was crowned French Champion of the class on his first attempt in 2018 and 13th in the world.
EASY TO FLY
The ETF26 is an L-foil catamaran with the same architecture as the 2018 America’s Cup boats (now SailGP). For Benoît, the appeal of the ETF26 lies in coordinating a three-person crew on a larger boat with different architecture and inertia.
This boat is also an excellent platform for public relations with partners!
The ABC Ville de Nice crew, led by Jean-Pierre Dick with Benoît at the helm, won the ETF Series in 2018 and took second place on the podium in 2019.
DN - ICEBOAT
The DN is pure gliding: an ice sailboat. It’s an extremely fast craft (boat record: 135 km/h!) that requires intense focus and excellent reflexes. Competing in the international circuit of the class helps train the mind to react at accelerated speed. Technically, the rig is self-regulating, working with flexibility—something quite unique and very inspiring.
On his F1 iceboat, Benoit was the only frenchman to compete internationally.
