I know how lucky I am

Swiss professional sailor Justine Mettraux had paid her dues, climbing the offshore racing circuit. She has now done The Ocean Race twice, most recently on the 2023-24 winner, but getting her own IMOCA for the 2024-25 Vendée Globe was still a coup.

There are plenty of people that never get to that starting line, but Mettraux parlayed the opportunity, racing solo round the world in her 2018 vintage IMOCA to break the women’s elapsed record en route to finishing 8th out of 40. And now she’s getting a new boat.

“Building an IMOCA is a huge challenge — one that doesn’t come around ten times in a lifetime,” she said. “Taking on a new Vendée Globe with greater sporting ambitions, alongside partners with whom there is mutual trust, is a real privilege. I know how lucky I am.”

Construction of this generation 2028 IMOCA – a Guillaume Verdier design – will be launched in April 2026.