3 sources · updated 4 Nov 2026
Born in 1945 in Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, Guy Bernardin began his offshore career in 1979 with a solo Falmouth-Azores-Falmouth race, then took part in the 1980 Transat anglaise and the 1981 Twostar aboard the 38-footer Rasto.
He finished fourth in his class in the 1982-83 BOC Challenge, then, backed by the biscuit maker LU, second in class in the 1984 Transat anglaise on a 44-footer. He had the 60-footer Biscuits LU 2 built, finishing second in the 1985 Twostar and fourth in the 1986-87 BOC Challenge.
In 1988 his New York-San Francisco record attempt ended when his boat was dismasted and sank after Cape Horn; he was rescued by the Chilean navy. A second attempt in late 1988 was stopped by a keel problem. He then entered the 1989-90 Vendée Globe, with a forced stop in Australia, and the 1990 Route du Rhum (16th).
From 1992 he sailed a replica of Spray, making crossings and circumnavigations and giving lectures. He went missing at sea in August 2017: his boat Crazy Horse was found empty off Cape Cod in October 2017.