A ski and mountaineering enthusiast, Pascal Bidégorry(1)(1)
©PAUCE/BPCE took part in his first major sailing race at the age of twenty-six. Beginning competition later than his contemporaries, the skipper originating from the Basque Country then made a name for himself as one of the most talented skippers in his generation.
His list of achievements namely includes a victory in the Solitaire du Figaro, two in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the ORMA World Champion title for multihulls, and winner of the Challenge Julius Baer in 2010 in the D35 category.
Elite
In 2004, Pascal Bidégorry joined the Banque Populaire Team, the prestigious French racing elite selected and sponsored by the Banque Populaire group. Soon, he convinced the group to buy Fred Le Peutrec’s trimaran and to let him to restore it his way. On board this rejuvenated vessel, he took out the Multihull World Championship title and the Jacques Vabre Transat in 2005.
The BPV adventure
The skipper then presided over the design of the giant trimaran Banque Populaire V (BPV), on which he would start beating major ocean records on crewed vessels in 2009: the crossing of the North Atlantic in 3 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes and 48 seconds, and the greatest distance to be sailed in 24 hours, in other words 908.2 miles. The following year, it was across the Mediterranean Sea that the man from Basque and his crew would be fastest, in 14 hours, 20 minutes and 34 seconds.
Pascal Bidégorry’s ultimate objective was to lead BPV to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy. But his first attempt, in 2011, was halted by a collision with a non-identified floating object on the 13th day at sea.
His collaboration with the Banque Populaire Team ended at the start of April 2011 before he could make another attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy.
Pascal Bidgorry is now continuing his career and filling out his list of awards while brandishing other colors – namely the gold and black of the Spindrift Racing team, now owner of the ex-Banque Populaire V!
Awards (extract):
2005 – Winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre on a 60’ multihull
2007 – 3rd in the Transat Jacques Vabre on a 60’ multihull
2009 – Holder of the record for sailing across the North Atlantic with a crew
2010 – Holder of the record for sailing across the Mediterranean with a crew on the Maxi Banque Populaire
2011 – Jules Verne Trophy: attempt on the Maxi Banque Populaire V - Winner of the Krys Match Race
2012 – 1st in the Krys Ocean Race and winner of the Multi One Championship (Mod 70 Spindrift)
– 2nd in the Round Europe Sailing Race (MOD 70 Spindrift)
2013 – 2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre with Marc Guillemot on Safran in the IMOCA category
2014-2015 – Volvo Ocean Race on Dongfeng
2015 – Winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre duo on MACIF Ultime with François Gabart