The Lorient skipper, forced to withdraw for lack of a sponsor, believes that innovation in the Imoca class should not be slowed down.
Thomas Ruyant, winner of the 2022 Route du Rhum, will not be on the starting line of the next edition. The skipper was indeed forced to withdraw for lack of a sponsor. His new Imoca, designed by architect Antoine Koch, is nevertheless ready and is currently resting in his hangar in Lorient.
Despite this personal setback, the sailor does not want the Imoca class to restrict the construction of new boats. In his eyes, such a ban would profoundly alter the DNA of the category. He considers that innovation and the renewal of designs are part of the very essence of offshore racing.
This stance comes at a time when several figures in the sport are calling for stricter controls on budgets and the pace of design of new foilers. Thomas Ruyant, for his part, defends a more open vision, believing that the rules should not prevent teams and architects from pushing the search for performance further.
The skipper's case illustrates current tensions: having a new boat does not guarantee finding the necessary funding to get it to the start. His programme, currently at a standstill, could nevertheless bounce back if a partner were to come forward. In the meantime, his Imoca remains docked, a symbol of a class where technology evolves faster than economic models.
Despite this personal setback, the sailor does not want the Imoca class to restrict the construction of new boats. In his eyes, such a ban would profoundly alter the DNA of the category. He considers that innovation and the renewal of designs are part of the very essence of offshore racing.
This stance comes at a time when several figures in the sport are calling for stricter controls on budgets and the pace of design of new foilers. Thomas Ruyant, for his part, defends a more open vision, believing that the rules should not prevent teams and architects from pushing the search for performance further.
The skipper's case illustrates current tensions: having a new boat does not guarantee finding the necessary funding to get it to the start. His programme, currently at a standstill, could nevertheless bounce back if a partner were to come forward. In the meantime, his Imoca remains docked, a symbol of a class where technology evolves faster than economic models.
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Source: Ouest-France