PORTRAIT OF THE WINNER. Nearly thirty years after his late father Laurent’s two back to back victories in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe (1994 and 1998), young Basile Bourgnon has turned this edition of the iconic race into a family legacy. A force of nature, already an exceptional sailor and a truly engaging personality, the 24-year-old skipper of the Ocean Fifty Edenred managed to stay the course until the very end—all while showing great passion and clearly savoring every moment
This edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe has confirmed many things about: Basile Bourgnon. He knows how and when to have a great time, but today he proved himself as the young sailor of his generation, just as his father was before him, Larent, winning the race for the first time at 28.
Pre start in Saint Malo he was a 24 year old enjoying life to the full, seen on nights out in the village and even going sea fishing in Ouistreham with his friends.
But on the water he is a phenomenon, able to operate at an exceptional level. Out on the water he took everything in stride—even as the challenging conditions tossed the fleet around throughout this highly unusual race. Last Wednesday, as another low-pressure system loomed, Basile remarked: "We’ll have to adapt once again. But isn't that exactly what you sign up for when you enter the Route du Rhum? I think so! It’s tough and demanding, but we’re having a blast." That’s Basile in a nutshell.
A few days before the start, the Edenred skipper opened up about his relationship with the open sea: "When I’m at sea, I feel like I’m in my elemen It’s a bit like home for me." So, he knows how to be resolute and endure. Basile has weathered it all: a tropical depression, a damaged sail, and a late-stage surge from his rivals that kept the suspense high right to the very end. In recent days, the young sailor has also revealed other sides of himself—such as in a video where, unable to hold back his tears, he offered his congratulations to his long time mate Tom Laperche.
Bourgnon embodies the spirit of solidarity and camaraderie so characteristic of the Ocean Fifty class. Three days ago, Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton by Delanchy)—arguably his most direct rival—received a message from Basile: "He told me, 'It’s intense out here; I’m seeing gusts of over 40 knots—stay safe,'" recounts Thibaut. In just a few minutes of radio contact, the skipper of Solidaires perfectly captured who Basile is: part partner, part competitor; a friend, a racer, and a highly accomplished athlete.
"If he hadn’t been my father, I would still have admired him as an athlete; he was a pioneer in so many ways." (Basile Bourgnon)
And so, Basile Bourgnon is carving out his own path, supported by the Edenred team—a group that has been with him since his early days in the Mini class. Alongside Emmanuel Le Roch, he has grown and evolved into a true sailor, a competitive racer, and a winner. He is well aware that this victory will inevitably stir up comparisons and memories of his father, Laurent. "I cannot deny history—it is my history, too,"
He was too young to have experienced his father’s triumphs firsthand. "I only came to know his career after he was gone. Even if he hadn’t been my father, I would have admired the athlete he was; he was a pioneer in so many ways."
Laurent was an iconic skipper—a lifelong boat geek and a visionary. He was among the first to really commit to rigorous physical training and to work tirelessly on his boats, constantly refining them to extract their full potential. He was also a giant who lived for the thrill, standing atop a hull, pushing himself to the absolute limit aboard his ORMA-class trimarans. After becoming the youngest skipper to win La Solitaire du Figaro at 22 Laurent—the only person to win the Route du Rhum twice overall (in 1994 and 1998)—began his own journey in this legendary transatlantic race with a podium finish in 1990. His son has now gone one better: his first entry, his first victory—a reminder that, sometimes, history is truly beautiful.
"I’ve been fortunate enough to be self-taught—to learn by observing."
In his demeanor, his physique, his gestures, and his words, there is much of Laurent in Basile. The heir is well aware of this; as a tribute, he chose to climb the mast of Edenred to recreate a photograph originally taken of his father. Yet, the legacy runs deeper than one might assume. It is not merely a matter of sailing the open seas, fine-tuning a rig, or honing one’s instincts—it is something far more profound. Laurent taught him the principle of seeing everything he undertook through to the end—of being far more rigorous with himself than with others.
Amidst all the memories that would inevitably come flooding back during those sweltering hours following his arrival, Basile would recall the images of the seven years he spent with his family on a boat, and his boundless passion for freedom, the sea, and wide-open spaces.
“I didn’t spend much time in school, but I was fortunate enough to be self-taught—to learn from what I see.” He continues: “The greatest quality he passed on to me is the ability to adapt to any situation.”
Basile demonstrated this brilliantly throughout the race—pushing himself to the absolute limit and navigating the open ocean with the precision of a tightrope walker—culminating in a victory that warms the heart. Once again, it is a sailor from La Trinité-sur-Mer who takes the win, following in the footsteps of Tom Laperche (29) and Corentin Horeau (37)—men he has frequently crossed paths with on the docks. At 24, Basile has his whole future ahead of him, and perhaps the best news of all is this: both experts and the general public can take great pride in knowing that they will continue to be thrilled by the exploits of a Bourgnon for a long time to come.
Basile Bourgnon’s race record: 2019: 12th in the Transat Jacques-Vabre 2021: 18th in the Mini-Transat 2023: 2nd in the Solitaire du Figaro (behind Corentin Horeau) 2023: 10th in the Transat Jacques-Vabre 2025: 5th in the Transat Café L’Or 2026: Winner of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe