Alain Gautier
- Nationality
- France
- Born
- 8 May 1962(64 years old)
- Gender
- Man
Biography
Alain Gautier, born on 8 May 1962 in Lorient, is a French offshore sailor. He first took part in the Solitaire du Figaro in 1980 and won it in 1989, building a reputation in both solo racing and multihulls.
In 1989 he started the first Vendée Globe aboard Generali Concorde and finished sixth. He was runner-up in the 1990 BOC Challenge on the same boat, then won La Baule-Dakar in the monohull category in 1991. In 1992-1993 he won the Vendée Globe in 110 days aboard Bagages Superior.
He went on to take fourth place in the 1994 Route du Rhum, won the 1996 Transat AG2R with Jimmy Pahun on Brocéliande, and was second in the 1998 Route du Rhum. Around 2000 he won several Grands Prix with the trimaran Foncia and finished second in the 2001 Transat Jacques-Vabre with Ellen MacArthur. In 2004 he handed the helm to Armel Le Cléac'h while remaining director of Team Foncia, then took the trimaran back for the 2006 Route du Rhum, finishing seventh.
He runs Lanic Sport Développement, a company founded in 1989 that prepares and supports offshore racing teams, including those of Ellen MacArthur and Isabelle Joschke. He also worked in America's Cup campaigns, joining Alinghi in 2008 and co-leading the Aleph challenge for the 2013 edition with Bertrand Pacé. He has also won the Tour de Belle-Île several times in crewed format aboard Sensation Océan.
Timeline
Boats, teams, races and records, year by year.
1993
Event · 1993
Wins the 1992-1993 Vendée Globe
He wins the solo round-the-world race in 110 days aboard Bagages Superior.
1989
Event · 1989
Wins the 1989 Solitaire du Figaro
He wins the Solitaire du Figaro.
1962
8 May 1962
Born
Unknown date
Team manager · unknown dates
Teams
Page reliability
4 sources · updated 6 Oct 2026