Portrait Jeremie Beyou – Masters of the Seas

by Leslie Greenhalgh on 3 Sep 2014 Jérémie Beyou was born in Finistere, at the heart of Leon. The 38 year old skipper does not come from a sailing family but got the taste of the sea after a few family fun cruises. He started helming from the age of seven until his teenage years, starting in Optimists and he always chose to sail solo: 'I told myself: keep going as a solo sailor as it might lead to an amazing career, normally as you progress through sailing, you are most likely to end up as part of a team, so enjoy it while you can! '

Jérémie has been based in Lorient since 2006. The year he started sailing in the IMOCA class on project Delta Dore and after that with the Maitre Coq project which kicked off in 2012.

'I have two boys, aged 6 and 10. IMOCA projects are all consuming, so when I am with the family, I try to be totally available for them 100% and today I have found a balance which seems to suit us all. Today I am able to lead the life I enjoy and that does not mean missing out on a quality life with my kids, quite the opposite actually, they love being part of it all and following that amazing passion.'

During his career as a professional skipper, Jérémie diversified and built his skills going from the First Class 8 up to the maxi trimaran via the Figaro Class where he spent 10 years between 1996 and 2006. This year he entered the extremely exclusive circle of triple winners of the Solitaire du Figaro alongside Jean le Cam, Philippe Poupon and Michel Desjoyeaux with his recent win of the 2014 edition.

'The Solitaire du Figaro is a really important race for me, it has delivered a lot for me in my career and I feel passionately about it. But I also like sailing on anything that floats as long as it goes pretty quickly and is of a high sports level.'

Jérémie discovered the IMOCA class in 2003, alongside Vincent Riou onboard PRB in the Calais Round Britain Race.

'What I discovered was something I knew little about from my Figaro and previous campaigns – that of the boat development side, and also the campaign organisation and management which is pretty interesting too. There are a lot of races, a pretty busy calendar ; you have to be able to manage the sporting side but also all the other technical and personal issues, It’s a challenge for the exciting days ahead. I have lots of great memories but the best one is still the Route du Rhum in 2011 with Jean-Pierre Dick on Virbac-Paprec.'

The Maitre Coq team have completed a major piece on work on the boat over this last winter, with the main objective of optimising the boat to be at the best possible level and make it as reliable as possible. The Maitre Coq IMOCA 60 is the previous Foncia which was owned by Michel Desjoyeaux and launched back in 2010, designed by VPLP-Verdier and the boat in which Armel Le Cleac’h took second place in the last Vendée Globe under the sponsorship of Banque Populaire.

'We have worked on the ballasts, the rudders, on the rig and most specifically we have changed the keel. That’s part of the rule for new boats, but we also felt it was a good idea to conform to this new rule.'

Jérémie Beyou has been sponsored by Maitre CoQ since 2012 and the agreement runs to the end of the next Vendée Globe.

'We have an agreement that runs until 2017, which allows us to confidently built a comprehensive sporting programme which takes in most of the major races in the IMOCA calendar. Alternating solo and double-handed racing is also important as sailing as a pair gives an intense experience'

'I am convinced that the new Ocean Masters World Championship is taking the IMOCA class in the right direction, putting emphasis on the sailors, whether they are the sailors who compete in the entire circuit or those who come along to sail as the second skipper in double handed races. The Vendée Globe event works because the concept is simple – one solo sailor around the world. And for a great Vendée Globe, there has to be other races before then, so that the public build awareness and understanding. People feel closer to us and I think we need to focus on building that contact with the general public.'

Jérémie Beyou and the Maitre CoQ team are focussed on the Route Du Rhum race this year and have a fully packed race programme and training in preparation for the next Vendée Globe, and at 38 this Breton Skipper displays some focused motivation:

'Staying motivated and passionate about what we do is not a challenge in itself, but for me that is a key point. The day that I no longer feel like going sailing to win races, with all of the pressure and sometimes the hard knocks that that can bring, that will be the time to stop. But for now all is good, I still have the desire!'