Biography: 

Jean-Luc Nélias is a seasoned offshore sailor and team manager of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance project. With decades of experience in competitive sailing, he has built a reputation as a skilled navigator, strategist, and team leader. His career highlights include victory in the Volvo Ocean Race (2011-12) as navigator aboard Groupama 4 and winning the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2017with Sodebo Voile. Nélias has also excelled in multihull racing, contributing to numerous successes in the Transat Jacques Vabre and Route du Rhum. Now at the helm of MACIF Santé Prévoyance, he brings his expertise to the next generation of IMOCA racing, overseeing both the sporting and technical aspects of the campaign. His leadership and deep knowledge of offshore racing make him a key figure in the world of ocean sailing.

About MerConcept:

MerConcept is a pioneering company founded in 2006 by renowned sailor François Gabart, dedicated to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in offshore sailing. Based in Brittany, France, MerConcept specializes in designing, building, and managing high-performance sailing projects across IMOCA, Ultim, and Ocean Fifty classes. Known for its groundbreaking achievements, MerConcept notably set the around-the-world solo sailing record in 2017 with François Gabart aboard trimaran MACIF. Today, it manages elite racing teams such as SVR-Lazartigue (Ultim class), MACIF Santé Prévoyance (IMOCA), and is the driving force behind initiatives like UpWind by MerConcept, promoting diversity and inclusion in sailing. MerConcept integrates sustainable solutions into its cutting-edge technologies, aiming to reduce sailing’s impact, pushing boundaries to advance performance, sustainability, and diversity in the sport.