King Jean crowned

2013-4 IMOCA Ocean Masters World Champion crowned

The end of the Barcelona World Race concluded the two year cycle of the first IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship and with it Jean Le Cam has crowned the victor, having won the doublehanded round the world with Bernard Stamm, and last year's Transat Jacques Vabre with Vincent Riou. Following his Championship win in 2006, this is the second time that Jean Le Cam has been crowned World Champion.

From now on, the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship will be awarded every two years, at the end of each of the Championship's two pinnacle round the world races: The Barcelona World Race and the Vendée Globe. The current title is the amalgamation of all the points skippers have scored in Championship races since the last Vendée Globe, including the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race and Transat Jacques Vabre in 2013, last year's IMOCA Ocean Masters New York to Barcelona Race and Route du Rhum and the 2014-5 Barcelona World Race.

Thanks to his two victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Barcelona World Race, Jean Le Cam adds a new trophy to his mantlepiece while his Barcelona World Race co-skipper Bernard Stamm and Guillermo Altadill complete the podium. Thanks to their solid performances in the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum, Jérémie Beyou and Marc Guillemot secure fourth and fifth place respectively.

In total some 21 competitors representing eight nationalities feature in the first IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship ranking, reflecting the increased international character of the IMOCA class. This includes ever growing number of Spanish sailors thanks to the Barcelona World Race and there is an ever increasing interest in the class from countries like Poland and Germany.

Jean Kerhoas, President of the IMOCA Class said: “Congratulations to Jean Le Cam, winner of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship 2013-2014. It is the consecration of a remarkable champion in the world of offshore racing, completing what is already a very rich track record earned over the course of an extraordinary career.

"By securing two fabulous victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Barcelona World Race, Jean quite logically rounds off this first edition of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship on the highest step of the podium.

"My warmest congratulations also to his two very European podium companions, Bernard Stamm and Guillermo Altadill, both incredible skippers who have sailed a very fine race.”

Sir Keith Mills, Chairman of OSM – Open Sports Management, organiser of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship added: “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Jean Le Cam on winning the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship 2013-14 and to Bernard Stamm and Guillermo Altadill on completing the impressive podium. Few sailors have been such consistent ambassadors of the IMOCA Class as these incredible skippers and nobody understands the technology of these complex IMOCA 60s more than Jean, making him not only an amazing sailor, but also a hugely valuable long-term member of the IMOCA Executive Committee.

"I am proud today to celebrate the accomplishment of three international and legendary figures of our sport. Congratulations King Jean! Congratulations Bernard! Congratulations Guillermo!"

IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship 2015-2016:

2015 :
16 August: Rolex Fastnet Race
25 October: Transat Jacques Vabre
6 December: Transat B to B

2016 :
May-June : The Transat
6 November : Vendée Globe