Race Statistics
- Finished: Thursday at 02:14
- Elapsed time: 10 days, 13 hours, 12 minutes and 36 seconds
- Gap to the winner: 1 day, 23 hours and 6 minutes
- Distance sailed: 3,115.18 nautical miles
- Average speed: 12.3 knots
Race Summary
Alongside Manu Cousin (Coup de Pouce), Arnaud Boissières was one of only two skippers in this year’s fleet to have competed in the previous edition of the Vendée Arctique. The course was different back then, and Boissières had endured a frustrating campaign. After battling through a severe low-pressure system for more than 24 hours, he was ultimately forced to retire following a succession of technical issues.
Four years later, the skipper returned to the Vendée Arctique with a new project. Having taken over Benjamin Dutreux’s former Guyot Environnement IMOCA, now renamed April Marine – Seeking Co-Partner, Boissières is embarking on a new chapter. The foiling yacht is expected to help him reach another level in his offshore racing ambitions.
He approached the race cautiously, fully aware of the challenging conditions that could await further north. Running in sixth place until reaching the waters north of Scotland, he was later overtaken by Nico d’Estais (Café Joyeux) and subsequently held seventh position all the way to the finish.
True to form, Boissières also provided plenty of entertainment along the way, notably with a video recorded while crossing the Arctic Circle. Appearing on camera wearing only his underwear, he joked that he was “dressed as a polar bear” before making a ceremonial “offering” of Nutella. Beyond the laughs, however, the skipper delivered a solid performance, gained a deeper understanding of his new boat and took an important first step towards qualifying for the 2028 Vendée Globe.
In short, every objective was achieved.u cercle polaire. Il est apparu devant la caméra en slip en se disant « déguisé en ours polaire » avant de donner « en offrande » un peu de Nutella. Quoi qu’il en soit, Arnaud a réalisé une prestation solide, appris à connaître plus son bateau et il fait un premier pas pour sa qualification au Vendée Globe 2028. En somme, tous les objectifs sont remplis !
