EXPLORE OUR STORY
Created in 2006 by François Gabart, MerConcept supports the creation and development of sporting and innovative projects. With 12 years of experience, we are specialize in engineering, technical studies and boat building.
2013
2012-13
2006
MerConcept is created by François, while he is still a student at INSA. Born from his ambition to pursue a career as a professional skipper, the company initially allows him to increase his experience of different supports, and to perform on the Solitaire du Figaro. The company then employs 3 people.
Helped by Michel Desjoyeaux in his preparation for the Vendée Globe, at 29 François becomes the youngest winner of this round-the-world, solo non stop race on the IMOCA MACIF.
MerConcept lands the contract for the MACIF trimaran project and so expands substantially with the recruitment of ten people.
2015
2014
Until now supported by Mer Agitée, François and his team split and become autonomous and the number of employees doubles.
François wins the double handed transatlantic race with Pascal Bidégorry. This is a great victory on the MACIF trimaran for the entire MerConcept team, just three months after the boat was launched.
2014
François confirms his talent by winning the Route du Rhum 2014 on the IMOCA MACIF.
2017
2017
2016
François wins the English Transat between Plymouth and New York, his first solo race on the trimaran MACIF.
CrewedVictory for François in The Bridge 2017 aboard the trimaran MACIF.
François smashes the single-handed round-the-world record at 42 days 16 hours and 40 minutes.
2019
2018
François finishes second in the Route du Rhum 2018 on the trimaran MACIF after a very close ‘duel between legends’ with Francis Joyon.
Racing the Brest Atlantiques with Gwenolé Gahinet and Jérémie Eloy, François finishes second on the MACIF trimaran. An honorable result after having suffered numerous damages to the appendages.
2018
Following this new success on the solo round-the-world trip, MerConcept lands the management of ambitious new projects, including the construction and management of the IMOCA APIVIA for the Vendée Globe 2020, and the design and management of a new Ultime trimaran, and sporting support for Figaro MACIF.
2020
2019
11th Hour Racing Team selects MerConcept to design and build their new IMOCA, with the aim of participating in the crewed round-the-world The Ocean Race 2022-23.
In May, Macif group announces its withdrawal from the Ultim class. A page turns. Convinced that progress must be meaningful, François and his team accelerate the diversification strategy initiated a few months earlier.
2006
MerConcept lands the contract for the MACIF trimaran project and so expands substantially with the recruitment of ten people.
2012-13
Helped by Michel Desjoyeaux in his preparation for the Vendée Globe, at 29 François becomes the youngest winner of this round-the-world, solo non stop race on the IMOCA MACIF.
2013
MerConcept lands the contract for the MACIF trimaran project and so expands substantially with the recruitment of ten people.
2014
François confirms his talent by winning the Route du Rhum 2014 on the IMOCA MACIF.
2014
Until now supported by Mer Agitée, François and his team split and become autonomous and the number of employees doubles.
2015
François wins the double handed transatlantic race with Pascal Bidégorry. This is a great victory on the MACIF trimaran for the entire MerConcept team, just three months after the boat was launched.
2016
François wins the English Transat between Plymouth and New York, his first solo race on the trimaran MACIF.
2017
CrewedVictory for François in The Bridge 2017 aboard the trimaran MACIF.
2017
François smashes the single-handed round-the-world record at 42 days 16 hours and 40 minutes.
2018
Following this new success on the solo round-the-world trip, MerConcept lands the management of ambitious new projects, including the construction and management of the IMOCA APIVIA for the Vendée Globe 2020, and the design and management of a new Ultime trimaran, and sporting support for Figaro MACIF.
2018
François finishes second in the Route du Rhum 2018 on the trimaran MACIF after a very close ‘duel between legends’ with Francis Joyon.
2019
Racing the Brest Atlantiques with Gwenolé Gahinet and Jérémie Eloy, François finishes second on the MACIF trimaran. An honorable result after having suffered numerous damages to the appendages.
2019
11th Hour Racing Team selects MerConcept to design and build their new IMOCA, with the aim of participating in the crewed round-the-world The Ocean Race 2022-23.
2020
In May, Macif group announces its withdrawal from the Ultim class. A page turns. Convinced that progress must be meaningful, François and his team accelerate the diversification strategy initiated a few months earlier.
In 2020 MerConcept moves into its new base in the harbour of Concarneau. Based in southern Brittany, this structure allows the team to establish themselves in the beating heart of a really dynamic cutting edge marine economy… Resolutely focused on innovation and excellence, the men and women who work within the company are driven by the same desire: to imagine and develop innovative concepts and to create bridges to the maritime world.
In July, MerConcept’s commitments take a turn: it becomes a purpose-driven company, namely a company committed to creative and sustainable ocean racing, whose striking innovations are benchmarks for the entire maritime world.
Our Manifesto
Our team work with passion to meet the major challenges of the 21st century. We make this energy part of a virtuous circle for our future, by, for example, reducing our impact on the environment and working to ensure that breakthrough innovations in ocean racing serves the entire maritime world.
