Damien Seguin officially announced his project on Wednesday his project to compete in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe 2026 aboard the former Fujicolor II in the Vintage Multi category. A project supported by Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and which will promote the association Handicap International. Sailorz tells you more.
After two participations in Class40 (2010 and 2014) and as many in Imoca (2018 and 2022), Damien Seguin will take the start of his fifth Route du Rhum on November 1, 2026, this time in a new category, Vintage Multi. For him, it is the culmination of a project he has been developing since his return from the Vendée Globe 2024 (15th place). “After the Vendée Globe, I wanted to move to a trimaran, so I sailed the Ocean Fifty season (with Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, 4th on the Transat Café L’Or) and I tried to project myself onto the Route du Rhum in Ocean Fifty,” he explains to Sailorz. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, because of that annoying numerus clausus rule. There were no boats to rent or buy and the class refused for me to build a new one.”
How did he then switch to the former Fujicolor II? “Last summer, I came across the advertisement for this boat for sale in the South of France; I immediately contacted the person in charge of the sale in Les Sables d’Olonne, and Xavier Destremau who was the skipper, with whom I spoke a lot.” Damien Seguin adds: “At the same time, I tried to get information by calling people who had sailed on this boat or knew the Ormas very well; I spoke to Franck Proffit, Loïck Peyron, Marc Guillemot, Bertrand de Broc… I told them all my story before asking them the same question: ‘Is this a good idea or a crazy idea?’ Globally, everyone told me it would be great to see this boat racing again, even more so on the Route du Rhum and with me; that reinforced my decision to continue working on this project.”
“Damien’s personality
did the rest”
Before going any further, the skipper traveled to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône to see the Nigel Irens design, launched in 1990 for Mike Birch, before being taken over in 1992 by Loïck Peyron, who was the skipper for eight years, winning the OSTAR twice (1992 and 1996), as well as the Transat Jacques Vabre in 1999 (with Franck Proffit). “I brought in two experts who carried out two survey sessions on the boat to ensure that the structure was sound and that she could embark on a racing campaign, knowing that she hadn’t sailed for a year and that for the past twelve years, she had only sailed 15 days a year in Turkey. I was indeed reassured, which allowed me to put together a compelling case around this boat and its refit. All that remained was to find at least one major partner to join me in this adventure.”As luck would have it, at that time (late August), Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, having chosen not to continue in Imoca with Yoann Richomme and Paprec (see our article), was actively looking to support a skipper on the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. This is confirmed by its Deputy Director of the Dynamics & Human Resources and Communication division, Cédric Malengreau: “Even if we had continued in Imoca, we knew that 2026 would have been a blank year in terms of sailing communication, so we wanted to occupy the media space, particularly within the framework of the Route du Rhum, which is important for us because we have a historical link with this race which is on our territory.”
Damien Seguin then got wind of this desire from the banking group, to whom he sent his proposal, including a partnership with Handicap International, whose colors he had already worn on the Route du Rhum 2014 and for whom he had been an ambassador ever since. Cédric Malengreau continues: “Since the spring, we had worked on about fifteen leads to finally draw up a short-list of five projects. Damien’s project particularly appealed to us and stood out prominently. It ticked many boxes, particularly with relevant storytelling that matched well with our values, focusing on disability and inclusion, but also sustainable finance with the refit of an older boat. His personality did the rest, and the closer contacts we have established since then have only confirmed our desire to work with him.”
A duel with Francis Joyon
in perspective
The final decision was ratified at the beginning of October, allowing Damien Seguin to confirm the purchase of the boat (of which he is the owner with his company), for 200,000 euros. Barely back from Fort-de-France in November, he headed south to deliver her to Les Sables d’Olonne, where she has entered the yard, taken in hand by Eole Performance, the company of brothers Benjamin and Marcel Jr Dutreux.The program includes a complete refit – costing 600,000 euros (for an overall budget of one million) – led with naval architect Loïc Dorez (who has worked notably at Groupama and Malizia) and Franck Proffit, who has become the project’s technical director. This includes the decoration, all the electrical and electronic systems, the pilot, a new set of sails (100% All Purpose in linen and nettle fibers), and greater protection for the skipper. “However, we are keeping the philosophy of the boat’s original era, notably the mast and original appendages; we are not going to turn it into a foiler,” specifies Damien Seguin.
The schedule? Launch in April, before the Tour de Belle-Ile, the ArMen Race, and the Drheam-Cup to validate the sports qualification, before the Route du Rhum, which the sailor is delighted to race on this legendary boat: “I grew up in Guadeloupe; at 10 years old, I witnessed the victorious arrival of Florence Arthaud, but also Mike Birch, who finished fourth on this boat. To tell myself that I am going to compete in the race that made me dream with this Irens design, the story is incredible to tell. Especially since my main competitor will be Francis Joyon, an Orma legend, on a boat that was built in the molds of mine (the first Banque Populaire, launched in 1994); that will be a great attraction for the people who follow the race.”
Is this enough to make him want to continue afterwards? “What is certain is that I will really become attached to this boat and that her life will not end after the Route du Rhum,” he replies. “Today, there are discussions with associations and organizers to create a real Multi Vintage class, which would be present in other races. If that happens and the program is interesting, why not continue?“ From Crédit Mutuel Arkéa’s side, Cédric Malengreau leaves all doors open: “We will review the situation at the end of 2026 and see, depending on everyone’s wishes, whether we continue with another project or this one. We have always said that we want to remain present in sailing in a form less sensitive to performance and aspiring to more modesty in the means deployed. But today, it is far too early to talk about it.”
Image : Marcus Vrignon
