Yvan Bourgnon.

Discover new horizons with the "Gladiator of the Seas"

Yvan Bourgnon is an adventurer, a competitor and a seasoned skipper committed to ecology. Born in 1971 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Yvan is part of a family dedicated to sailing, along with his brother Laurent Bourgnon. Together, they emerged victorious from the Transat Jacques-Vabre in 1997.

From the age of eight, Yvan Bourgnon completed his first round-the-world trip with his parents, which, inevitably, gave him a taste for challenges and sea adventures. He started competing in 1995, accumulating successes and records.

A talented technical preparer, this sailing professional enjoys mastering the elements and anticipating risky situations. On a beach catamaran, he rounded Cape Horn in 2012, which entered him into the legend of great navigators, but he didn't stop at just one feat! That's why, in 2013, he embarked on an unprecedented project by setting off on a round-the-world trip on a six-meter non-habitable catamaran, solo. His objective was to navigate under minimalist conditions: no weather information, no GPS. He departed with paper charts, a satellite phone, and a sextant! An extraordinary adventure that allowed him to confront the elements and push his limits. Indeed, they encountered storms and, conversely, flat calm conditions which were even harder to face. This human adventure was the subject of a film titled "En équilibre sur l'océan" (Balanced on the Ocean).

In 2017, on the same non-habitable sports catamaran, he achieved the ultimate feat of the Northwest Passage, connecting Alaska to Greenland in 71 days at sea after sailing beyond the Arctic Circle and avoiding drifting icebergs. Today, Yvan is involved in a major project aimed at raising awareness about marine pollution. With The Sea Cleaners, he is personally embarking on an ocean clean-up operation, with the construction of the Manta, a boat designed to collect floating plastic waste!

He now shares his experience and projects in conferences in Switzerland and around the world.Languages spoken by the speaker

• English
• French

Yvan Bourgnon delivers conferences in French-speaking Switzerland (conferences in Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel…) and in all French-speaking or English-speaking countries. With UnoMe, you can benefit from the commitment and experience of this seasoned and dedicated navigator. In his fight for the preservation of marine spaces and through his sailing experience, Yvan Bourgnon offers conferences on leadership and motivation. Also benefit from the story of a man involved in saving the oceans.

• Performance management
• Teambuilding and team spirit
• How to properly manage your project
• Risk management
• Knowing how to bounce back after a setback
• Environmental awareness
• Expertise and solutions for marine pollution
• Individual and collective motivation

Personal or crew achievements

1995 – Winner of a triple: the Mini-Transat, the Mini-Fastnet, and the Transgascogne

1997 – Victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre, with his brother

2001 – Record for the English Channel Challenge in crewed sailing.

2003 – French Formula 18 Raids Champion.

2006 – 24-hour record: 610 miles in less than 60 feet and solo. Absolute record in 60 feet, still unmatched.

2012 – Rounding Cape Horn on a sport catamaran in extreme conditions

2013 – 1st round-the-world trip on a sport catamaran, solo, without a cabin and without GPS (220 days at sea).

2016 – 3rd in the Transat Quebec St-Malo

2017 – Northwest Passage on a sport catamaran, solo and without a cabin (71 days at sea)

2018 – Double world record on the Marseille-Carthage and Cowes-Dinard routes