Two new Imoca projects taking shape

12 October 2026

Since the last Vendée Globe, the Imoca class has welcomed new skippers, most of them from Class40. Nicolas d’Estais led the way last year, followed by Pierre-Louis Attwell, Robin Marais, William Mathelin-Moreaux and Jean-Baptiste Daramy. On Thursday, Aurélien Ducroz announced the acquisition of the former Acciona as he prepares to make his own Imoca debut in 2027. Sailorz spoke to him and Jean-Baptiste Daramy, who explain their respective projects.

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PYL was a journalist at L’Express for 15 years, where he covered not only sailing but also wrote on politics and economics until July 2015. He has been the author of the blog Au Large for a decade.

He is an experienced racer, sailing for many years in the Mini (Mini-Transat 2001) and Class40 (Route du Rhum 2014).

He co-founded Tip & Shaft with Axel Capron in November 2015.

Starting out as a sports journalist at Teléstar, Axel joined the editorial staff of Sports.fr to cover sailing among other sports, before rising to the role of chief editor.

He was then appointed Newsweb’s sports news editor (Lagardère Active Media Group) until March 2015.

He co-founded Tip & Shaft with Pierre-Yves Lautrou in November 2015.

As a media and digital professional with more than 25 years of experience, Frédéric has worked in France and abroad for groups such as Canal + España – Prisa, Telefónica, Music Choice (Warner/Sky), Infospace, the Fox group among others.

He also works as an investor and advisor in start-ups at the crossroads of media and new technologies.

Frédéric Chevance joined Tip & Shaft’s founders in 2020 to support the company in its development.

In charge of graphics and communications, Violette is passionate about board sports and competitive sailing.

Violette joined Tip & Shaft in 2021 as an intern at the end of her Bachelor’s degree, and after two years of work-study, she obtained her Master’s degree from L’Inseec Bordeaux.

She is now pursuing her career within the company, which enables her to combine her passion with her professional life.

Passionate about board sports, Hermine has been sailing since she was a little girl, first cruising, then racing since 2018 on different boats (J80, Open 5.70, TF10, etc.).

After graduating from business school, Hermine spent 4 years in project management in a social enterprise.

She joined Tip & Shaft in September 2023 as events project manager.

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Alexis joined Tip & Shaft in September 2023 as Event Manager.

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Originally from La Rochelle and always attracted by the sea, she decided to leave Paris and travel for a year on her sailing boat around the Atlantic.

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Passionate about sports, he also practices ultra-cycling, finisher of the Race Across France 2500km.

Jean-Christophe has several years of experience in media company management – Avenir France, JCDecaux, France Télévisions Publicité, Phenix Groupe – and launched Evolution Media in 2016.

In particular, he runs a department dedicated to supporting brands in the world of sailing and ocean racing. He has been in charge of the Tip & Shaft advertising network since 2017.

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By exploring their trajectories, Into The Wind seeks to understand how those who go out to sea on a race, for a day, a week, a month or a quarter, alone or with a crew, in the bay or around the world, are built.

Sailors, men or women, are often of few words. By giving them time and letting them talk, Into The Wind has only one objective: to take to sea with them.