M Yannick Bestaven

Yannick Bestaven is a French offshore sailor and engineer who gained international recognition after winning the 2020–2021 Vendée Globe. Born on December 28, 1973, in Saint-Nazaire, he combines deep technical expertise with a passion for solo navigation. His victory was not only historic but symbolic of endurance, solidarity, and strategy. Bestaven completed the race third across the finish line, but he was awarded time compensation by the jury for his vital role in the rescue of fellow skipper Kevin Escoffier, whose boat sank in the Southern Ocean. With the adjusted time, Bestaven was officially declared the winner—an outcome that highlighted the values of sportsmanship and mutual aid at sea. A trained engineer from INSA Lyon, he also co-founded Watt & Sea, a company specializing in hydrogenerators for sailing vessels. This technical background has deeply informed his approach to boat preparation and energy autonomy on long voyages. Yannick is known for his humility, resilience, and commitment to ecological innovation in ocean racing. His Vendée Globe campaign with *Maître Coq IV* was marked by consistency, smart routing, and tireless effort despite facing several storms and technical issues. Bestaven’s triumph is celebrated not just as a sporting achievement, but as a story of courage, competence, and collective values—a legacy that resonates far beyond the sailing world.