The sea, sailing and competition are a family affair at the Eliès household. Yann’s grandfather was a dealer in pleasure craft, his father a fan of the Solitaire du Figaro, which he was to win, and then Yann himself became immersed in offshore racing as a teenager.

After winning four out of five Vendée Globes, the Finot Group had nevertheless not designed a new prototype since 2000.