Vendée Globe 2024-2025: Two IMOCAs built by CDK Technologies set the benchmark for this edition

Sébastien Simon (FRA), Groupe Dubreuil, skipper took 3rd place in the Vendée Globe on 17 January 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France © Jean-Louis Carli / Alea

Charlie Dalin crossed the Vendée Globe finish line on Tuesday morning, securing a brilliant win in this edition and setting a blistering new record of 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds. This latest triumph is particularly special for CDK Technologies, since it marks the sixth victory ofa boat built by CDK Technologies in the Vendée Globe, and the yard's fifth consecutive crown. This performance is testament to the reliability and technical prowess of the IMOCA Macif Santé Prévoyance, which is the result of the meticulous work carried out by the teams from CDK Technologies and MerConcept.

Sébastien Simon, aboard the IMOCA Groupe Dubreuil, made the finish this Friday morning, rounding off his circumnavigation of the globe with a stunning 3rd place after 67 days of racing.

These two IMOCAs benefited from the same cutting-edge expertise since they were both designed by the same naval architect: Guillaume Verdier.

Launched in June 2023,the IMOCA Macif Santé Prévoyance, is the fruit of more than ten years of a very close collaboration between CDK Technologies and MerConcept. This 60-foot monohull is the fifth IMOCA built by CDK Technologies since the previous edition of the Vendée Globe (2020) and she stands out through a series a of notable advances in terms of design, ergonomics and performance, whilst drawingon the experience gained with her predecessor, the IMOCA APIVIA. The latter boat, which enabled Charlie Dalin to secure line honours in the 2021 edition of the race, served as the base from which to hone the new Macif Santé Prévoyance and createan even more high-performance racing tool.

On the third step of the podium we find the IMOCA Groupe Dubreuil, skippered by Sébastien Simon, a boat with a prestigious history, she too built at CDK Technologies. MerConcept played a key role as technical partner in the creation of this IMOCA launched in the colours of 11th Hour Racing.

This collaboration enable devery aspect of the boat to be optimised, producing a reliable and high-performance design poised to take on the challenges of the Vendée Globe. This same boat had already made a name for herself on the international stage by winning The Ocean Race 2021, one of the most iconic and demanding races in the world.

Having suffered foil damage in the Southern Ocean, Sébastien Simon managed to step up to the challenge ahead with incredible resilience, writing a new page in global maritime history by masterfully posting a new record for the greatest distance sailed single-handed in 24 hours with a stellar 615 miles!

CDK Technologies' Vendée Hall of Fame

This anniversary edition of the Vendée Globe is particularly special for CDK Technologies. Indeed, among the 40 boats at the start, 13 have been built and optimised by the yard, which equates to nearly a third of the fleet. Among them, five are new builds and ten are equipped with foils by CDK Group, which is testament to the yard constantly raising its game in terms of expertise and innovation in the domain of offshore racing.

In addition to this capacity and talent for breaking new ground, the durability of the yachts built by CDK Technologies is a game changer. Boats like Fives Lantana skippered by Louis Duc, launched in 2006, and Devenir helmed by Violette Dorange, launched in 2007, are continuing to make a name for themselves on the oceans nearly two decades on from their creation. This longevity demonstrates the quality of thebuild, as well as the yard's commitment to durability and the development of existing resources.

These 13 boats have beenlaunched between 2006 and 2023:

Louis DUC's FivesLantana (2006), Violette DORANGE's Devenir (2007), Arnaud BOISSIÈRES' La Mie Caline (2010), Benjamin FERRÉ's Monnoyeur - Duo for a job (2010), Pip HARE's Medallia and Damien SEGUIN's Groupe Apicil (2015), Justine METTRAUX's Teamwork (2018), Clarisse CRÉMER's L'Occitane en Provence (2019), Sébastien SIMON's Groupe Dubreuil(2021), Jérémie BEYOU's Charal (2022) and Yannick BESTAVEN's Maître Coq V (2022), Thomas RUYANT's Vulnérable TR and Charlie DALIN's Macif Santé Prévoyance (2023).

Our thoughts go out to Pip Hare (Medallia) and Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V), who were forced to retire from this edition of the race, with a special mention for the latter, who is continuing on his way, unofficially, and with the same passion and determination, providing yet another demonstration of the resilience of the sailors competing in this extraordinary adventure.

This edition also shines a spotlight on the essential role played by C3 Technologies, which is another powerful force on the Vendée Globe 2024 podium. Indeed, the company based in La Rochelle designed the rudders of all three boats, which form part of this distinguished podium: Macif Santé Prévoyance, Arkéa Paprec and Groupe Dubreuil. Furthermore, C3 Technologies made the composite structure forward of the foils on the IMOCA Macif Santé Prévoyance, once again highlighting the importance of their know-how in the performance of the IMOCAs out on the racetrack.

Playing a leading role in the legendary Vendée Globe, one of the most hotly contested competitions on the planet, the outcome of which is never a given until the finish line is crossed, comes as a huge source of pride to the yard. This sentiment is further heightened when you look at the track records of these boats, which have been coming out of this unique yard for nearly three decades.

This victory posted by Macif Santé Prévoyance is the sixth in 10 editions for a boat that has come out of CDK Technologies, and the yard's fifth consecutive crown:

• Bagages Superior with Alain Gautier in 1992
• Foncia with Michel Desjoyeaux in 2008
• MACIF with François Gabart in 2012
• Banque Populaire VIII with Armel Le Cléac'h in 2016
• Maître Coq IV with Yannick Bestaven in 2020
• Macif Santé Prévoyance with Charlie Dalin in 2024

With its savoir-faire ranging from monohulls to multihulls measuring 50 to 130 feet, CDK Technologies has asserted itself as an undisputed leader in competitive sailing. Boasting 6 victories in the Vendée Globe, 5 of them consecutive, together with a string of success in prestigious races like the Route du Rhum, the Transat Jacques Vabre and The Transat, not to mention the iconic records set by the giant trimarans, the yard is an absolute trailblazer in terms of its level of expertise.

These collaborative achievements are the result of a combination of outstanding technical and human skills, which are required to take on the challenges of oceanic competition.They are a reflection of the unfailing passion and commitment of the men and women who make up the CDK Technologies team. True to the values of its founder, Hubert Desjoyeaux, CDK Technologies blends cutting-edge innovation and tried-and-tested savoir-faire by relying on professional teamwork and highly specialised skillsets.

These performances have nothing to do with luck: they are the result of extraordinary know-how, honed in-house and a policy of strategic industrial investment. Thanks to high-tech tooling like its large-scale autoclaves and ovens, the yard is able to more than satisfy the highest demands of competitive sailing, whilst transposing these technologies to other sectors like industry, defence and aeronautics.

Every boat that leaves CDKTechnologies' workshops embodies this fusion of human commitment, collective passion and exceptional know-how. These values, championed by every member of the team, are the key to success and continue to ensure that CDK Technologies is a driving force in offshore racing and marine innovation.

Enjoying a firm foothold in Bretagne Sailing Valley©, a genuine centre of excellence grouping together over 200 companies and 2,300 employees, CDK Technologies is helping to promote an innovative network worth close to 350-million euros, whilst continuing to constantly push back the limits of maritime performance ever further.