Presentation
Naturally affable, at first glance Manuel Cousin has the profile of a passionate sailor. However, there’s much more to this 52-year-old Norman, based in Les Sables d'Olonne, his boat’s home port. For him, there is competition at every level of the ranking.
With a qualitative technical background after having spent twenty years in the automotive industry, Manuel Cousin, passionate about sailing since his early childhood, chose to convert late to realize his dream, that of becoming a professional sailor. Initially launched in Class40, he draws a very positive assessment of these first years with Groupe SETIN, participation in flagship races such as the Transat Jacques Vabre or the Québec Saint - Malo which allow him to evolve since 2017 in IMOCA. His first two seasons on the IMOCA Groupe SETIN are a reflection of his temperament.
The only IMOCA class skipper to have raced and finished all the races on the calendar for the last two years, he is working hard to be confident in the future, while giving a more sporting tempo to his participations in order to get his ticket for the Vendée Globe.
He starts the mythical round-the-world race on November 8, 2020 with the goal of finishing. Determined above all else, the skipper of Groupe SÉTIN will have, throughout the race, shouted loud and clear his determination and persistence in every difficulty encountered.
Nautical CV
- 2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - 18th
- 2021: Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération - Retired
- 2020-21: Vendée Globe - 23th (103d 18h 15min 40s)
- 2020: Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 15th
- 2019: Défi Azimut - 18th
- 2019: Rolex Fastnet Race - 11th
- 2019: Bermuda 1000 Race - 12th
- 2018: Route du Rhum - 14th
- 2018: Monaco Globe Series - 6th
- 2018: Bermudes 1000 Race - 4th
- 2017: Transat Jacques Vabre - 11th
- 2017: Rolex Fastnet Race - 14th IMOCA
- 2016: Quebec Saint-Malo - 14th Class40
- 2015: Transat Jacques Vabre - 7th in Class40
The boat
