Presentation
Yachtsmen always wish they were sailing offshore yet not a day goes by without them talking about the waters on which they had their first sailing experiences. For Arnaud Boissières, these waters are in Arcachon and its well-known bay. He is funny, nice and open which, along with his availability, is appealing and comes as a reminder that you can be a very serious skipper without taking yourself too seriously. The yachtsman, who is seen as an ideal buddy, was immediately welcome in the offshore racing world and nicknamed “Cali”, half-tenderly and half-amusedly.
But there is a lot more to Boissières than all that as he is also a stubborn and ambitious yachtsman. He learnt offshore sailing from some of the best skippers such as Yves Parlier or Catherine Chabaud who trusted him their own boats. He naturally likes to go for things and will never give up. After dismasting in the 1999 Mini Transat, he not only managed to save his boat after a stop in France but he also finished the race. Cali sailed with champions like Olivier de Kersauson in his round-the-world record attempt before making a name for himself in solo races.
In 2008, at the age of 36, he participated in his first Vendée Globe and finish seventh. Even though sailing specialists all agreed on how great his human qualities were, very few expected such a performance from a man who was virtually but soon became one of the favourites of the public, who appreciates his good humor and his availaibility. With a circumnavigation, six transatlantic races and thousands of nautical miles of training, Boissières has become one of the most experienced skippers in the world.
In 2012, Arnaud finished 8th in the Vendée Globe. And he repeats the experience on the following editions, in 2016 and then in 2020, where he finished 10th and 15th respectively.
At the end of 2021, he will take over the helm of the former Initiatives-Coeur, a 2010 VPLP-Verdier design equipped with new foils, and will take part in all the IMOCA GLOBE SERIES races in order to prepare for his fifth solo round-the-world race.
Nautical CV
2022: Route du Rhum - 17ème
2022: Vendée Arctique - Retired
2022: Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 12th
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - 16th
2021: Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération - 11th
2020-21 : Vendée Globe - 15th (94j 18h 36m 06s)
2020: Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 14th
2019: Défi Azimut - 17th
2019: Rolex Fastnet Race - 14th
2019: Bermuda 1000 Race - 9th
2018: Route du Rhum - 9th
2016-17: Vendée Globe - 10 th
2017: Transat Jacques Vabre - 11th
2015: Transat Jacques Vabre - ABD
2013: Transat Jacques Vabre - 6th
2012: Vendée Globe - 8th
2010: Route du Rhum - 7th
2009: Transat Jacques Vabre - 7th
2008-09: Vendée Globe - 7th
2008: The Artemis Transat - 7th
2005: Ecuador Route - Winner
2001: Mini Transat - 3rd
The boat
