• Based in Brittany, Thomas Ruyant was born and raised in Dunkirk.

  • He is back all weekend in his home town to show off his boat, 6th in the last Vendée Globe and winner of the Transat Jacques-Vabre.

  • A necessary return to recharge the batteries before setting off again for new adventures.

The return of the prodigal son.

Sixth in the last Vendée Globe and winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre in November 2021, Thomas Ruyant is now one of the best skippers of his generation.

The one who will be aiming for victory in the Route du Rhum next November has come to present his Linkedout boat in his home town of Dunkirk.

Although he has been living in Brittany for several years, the 40-year-old sailor returns each time to present his Linkedout boat, of which 20 Minutes is a partner, in the city of Jean Bart.

But the Covid having, as everywhere, turned his plans upside down, Thomas Ruyant took longer than expected to perpetuate the tradition.

“It's the only boat I haven't come back with until now.

I came back with all the others, whether they were the Minis, the Class 40s or even my first Imoca.

This one, I've had it for four years and as I'm changing boats next year with a view to the next Vendée Globe, I had to come back quite quickly and I'm delighted to be here” says the northern sailor.

"It's really an opportunity to share your passion"

A return to four days with great fanfare during which he took the opportunity to introduce his boat to the partners, the media but also to the children and inhabitants of a town in which his parents still live.

A port city where the offshore racing adventure began for him.

“This is where I learned to go boating, to do Optimist courses in the summer.

But I only started racing when I was 15-16 years old.

This return is really an opportunity to share our passion and our project with all the people of Dunkirk.

“, rejoices Thomas Ruyant, happy to share his passion with his family.

A break before a busy 2022.

With four races on the program including the famous Route du Rhum at the end of the year, the Northerner hopes to further strengthen his status as the best Dunkirk of the seas.

A kind of Jean Bart with 2022 sauce.

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  • Sport

  • Veil

  • Vendee Globe

  • Ship

  • Dunkirk

  • Hauts-de-France

  • Lille

  • 20 minute video