Alan Roura has spent his life on the water, gaining an understanding of the power of the elements, the challenges they pose, and the freedom they offer. Having grown up on the ocean, he has spent 22 of his 30 years sailing, first around the world as a family, and then in competitions. The Swiss-born skipper is the epitome of maturity, despite his relatively young age. He was the youngest finisher at the Vendée Globe in 2016, and the youngest participant again in the last event in 2020.

To allow him to dream big and reach the highest levels of the sport, Alan has launched himself into a new challenge on board a state-of-the-art boat, a foiling yacht with a fully enclosed cockpit. This adventure has been made possible thanks to the support of Hublot. The brand, which has been invested in sailing since its beginnings, is reviving its passion with this return to ocean sailing.

”I always have this desire to push myself ever further, this conviction that I can always do better, that it’s possible to draw the best out of a boat. It is this feeling that is driving me to take on this incredible adventure with Hublot, before I contest my third Vendée Globe. The mission is all the more challenging as we have decided to complete it on board a boat which was designed for another sailor. We had to really apply ourselves to understand it and make it how we wanted it to be. We have put in place a system which uses the expertise and skills of everyone involved to ensure this project is a success. At the end of this long road lies the Vendée Globe, the “Everest of the seas” and the ultimate goal. It is the kind of challenge where you simply cannot ever give up, and that’s a good thing: it is exactly this mindset that we have cultivated with Hublot and the entire team.”

– ALAN ROURA, SWISS SKIPPER AND HUBLOT AMBASSADOR

At this moment in time, everything still needs finalising. It is important to understand this IMOCA, improve its reliability, and build confidence on board like never before. When conditions deteriorate out there on the ocean, the learning curve can be steep. But Alan is the kind of person that will never give up. He will demonstrate this once again this autumn, in a season that is set to be particularly challenging. In the space of two months, the skipper will cross the Atlantic twice. The first crossing will begin on 29 October, when he takes on the “Transat Jacques Vabre”, the longest of the transatlantic routes, between Le Havre and Fort-de-France in Martinique, in the company of Swiss co-skipper Simon Koster.

Just a few days after arriving in Martinique, it will be time for the skipper’s second crossing, the “Retour à la Base”. The return journey from west to east will take the boat from Fort-de-France to Lorient, this time solo and in conditions that can be very demanding. This is a great opportunity to build up experience and deepen skills. Each day on board, each challenge and each success will be of great value, for there is just one purpose behind all of this: to be as prepared as possible for the Vendée Globe, the ultimate dream of anyone with a passion for ocean racing (departing in just over a year, on 10 November 2024).

”Sailing is a human adventure with unique and unforgettable moments and stories. Hublot is supporting this incredible mission, which infuses all the innovation and technical skill of sailing with a uniquely human passion. We are proud of the Hublot Sailing Team, and wish Alan and Simon the best of luck as they race under the IMOCA Hublot colours”.

– RICARDO GUADALUPE, HUBLOT CEO