A constant challenge for Team Banque Populaire
by Voile Banque Populaire 15 Jan 20:44 AEDT
Banque Populaire 14 design to be built in 2026 © Team Banque Populaire
Team Banque Populaire is preparing for a particularly busy season. Aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, an ambitious solo and crewed program is on the horizon, with victory as the sole objective. While Armel Le Cléac'h will attempt to win the legendary Route du Rhum in November, he could also set sail this year to try and break two records (Cadiz to San Salvador solo, and the Jules Verne Trophy) and will compete in the Odyssée Ultim, a new race in the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, construction of the IMOCA Banque Populaire 14 continues; the launch is scheduled for early 2027. Its future skipper, Loïs Berrehar, will race his first events under the Banque Populaire brand, participating in the Figaro circuit and notably "La Solitaire" in May, with the goal of winning.
In 2026 Team Banque Populaire will be constantly on deck, driven by the spirit of collective success and innovation.
Ultim and the Route du Rhum
For Armel Le Cléac'h, the 2026 season is a "key year in our program." He makes no secret of his enthusiasm, saying he's already ready to go and in the thick of it, when he talks about the Route du Rhum, which starts on November 1st. While he boasts one of the most impressive track records in offshore racing, the skipper dreams of adding a prestigious victory to this legendary race, which he has never won.
The team is preparing meticulously, and everything counts: the experience gained since the launch in 2021, the 56-day solo round-the-world voyage in 2024, the ten transatlantic crossings already completed, and the 150,000 nautical miles already covered (277,800 km). This season will also bring its share of lessons with two transatlantic races planned and a race in the Mediterranean (the Ultim Odyssey) planned for the first part of the season.
Technically, the boat will have completely renewed kit. After the new foils and rudders last year, a new daggerboard will be installed next summer. "Together, these appendages will allow the boat to have a more stable, more consistent, more complete, and more efficient flight," explains Armel.
"Having integrated the most significant innovations last year allows us to focus on the sporting side this year," adds Erwan Steff, director of Team Banque Populaire.
"The boat is at its peak in terms of technology and research; it's reliable, Armel knows it inside and out," adds Sébastien Josse, sporting director.
To help Armel regain his form sailing solo, the Ultim will be launched this month. A record attempt for the Discovery Route (Cadiz-San Salvador) could also be on the agenda if conditions permit. This would allow Armel to experience conditions and sensations he'll encounter in the Route du Rhum.
In addition to solo racing, the program also features crewed races. It is in this configuration that Banque Populaire XI will compete in the first edition of the Ultim Odyssey. Starting and finishing in Antibes, from May 3rd to 7th, the Ultims will complete a 2,000-mile loop that will take them, among other places, to Olympia. Following in the footsteps of Homer's Odyssey, they will compete in a thrilling sprint where they will have to withstand the treacherous conditions of the Mediterranean.
Following this, the giant maxi-trimaran will stop in several towns on the French Riviera, as well as in Port Camargue and Bordeaux, a great opportunity for the general public to see this boat in ports not usually frequented by it. The team will therefore take advantage of this spring, dedicated to crewed sailing, to refine their teamwork before attempting the Jules Verne Trophy in the winter of 2026/2027.
"It will be a huge challenge for us. It will be my first attempt at a round-the-world record, but it's a route I know well," says Armel enthusiastically.
The calendar
- February: Attempt to break the Discovery Route record (starting from Cadiz) or solo transatlantic crossing
- From May 3rd to 7th: Ultim Odyssey (departure from Antibes)
- From May 11 to 28: Stopovers on the French Riviera (from the 11th to the 14th) with Banque Populaire Méditerranée, in Port Camargue (from the 15th to the 19th) with Banque Populaire du Sud, in Bordeaux (from the 25th to the 28th) with Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique.
- From September 24th to 27th: 24H Ultim (starting from Lorient)
- November 1st: Route du Rhum (starting from Saint-Malo)
- December: Attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy
Loïs Berrehar makes an ambitious return to Solitaire du Figaro
"We are incredibly excited and highly motivated!" Erwan Steff sets the tone by mentioning Loïs Berrehar's participation in the upcoming Solitaire du Figaro this May. Team Banque Populaire will indeed be returning to the school of offshore racing, a race Armel won three times (2003, 2010, 2020). Loïs Berrehar, for his part, came close to victory in 2024 (two wins, 2nd overall). "Naturally, it makes you want to go back and do a little better," smiles the young skipper.
With the IMOCA Banque Populaire 14 under construction, this was a perfect opportunity to rediscover the rhythm of solo sailing and compete in a very demanding circuit.
"The Figaro is the very essence of offshore racing, and the idea of Loïs returning to it was welcomed by everyone at Banque Populaire," explains Erwan Steff. The skipper will be able to count on the support of Jérémie Flahault, the boat preparer who already worked with him during his Figaro years. "We're going to do everything we can to put him in the best possible position so he can compete for the win," adds Erwan.
Loïs will begin training this January before returning to competition in March. In April, Loïs will compete in the Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Trophy with Charlotte Yven, with whom he was partnered in the Macif skipper program, and with whom he shone in 2023 by winning the Concarneau-Saint-Barthélemy double-handed transatlantic race. This Figaro program delights him, and he makes no secret of his eagerness to compete: "I think it's fantastic that my first major solo race under the Banque Populaire banner is the Solitaire du Figaro!"
The calendar
- January, February: Internships in Port-La-Forêt
- March 8: Solo Concarneau
- April 25th: Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Trophy (doubles, in Concarneau)
- May 17: Solitaire du Figaro (start from Perros-Guirec)
IMOCA Banque Populaire 14 is taking shape
Alongside his Figaro program, Loïs Berrehar will continue to closely follow the construction of the IMOCA Banque Populaire 14. For over a year, the members of Team Banque Populaire have been working alongside him in constant contact with all the companies involved in building this cutting-edge monohull. The team is thus reconnecting with its heritage as a boat owner, putting all its expertise into this ambitious project.
"With the design office and the naval architects, I try to be as involved as possible so that the boat is as close as possible to what we envision," explains Loïs.
"He is very involved in our thinking, whether it's about the cockpit, ergonomics, or onboard systems," adds Jean-Marc Failler, the team's IMOCA technical director. The skipper regularly exchanges ideas with the engineers, hones his skills on the simulator, and fine-tunes certain details using a virtual reality headset.
"With CDK, we will begin the active phase of the project at the start of this year," assures Erwan Steff. All the companies and craftspeople involved, most of whom are from the local economy, form a close-knit ecosystem committed to the project's success. The first layers of carbon fibre will be placed in the mould in the coming days.
Next, the internal structure will be installed, followed by all the other components and the deck. This meticulous work will continue throughout the year until the launch, expected in early 2027. The Team Banque Populaire teams continue to work closely with TR Racing and Malizia, pooling their expertise.
Loïs will also be sailing aboard the new Malizia starting this summer (The Ocean Race Atlantic, beginning of The Ocean Race).
"It's a real opportunity," Jean-Marc emphasises. "It's like he's sailing his boat before it's even built!" The IMOCA will nevertheless stand out thanks to its cockpit, deck, and coachroof, which are better suited to solo sailing and Loïs's abilities.
The calendar
- Spring: Hull construction
- Summer: Installation of the internal structure
- Autumn: Bridge installation, cabling
- Early 2027: Launch