Baptiste Hulin has announced that Thomas Rouxel will join him as co-skipper on the Ocean Fifty trimaran Viabilis Océans. This partnership aims to combine their expertise and ambition to compete at the highest level in the upcoming Ocean Fifty circuit.
Thomas Rouxel is joining Baptiste Hulin aboard the Ocean Fifty trimaran Viabilis Océans. The two men, who had already formed a strong partnership during the Med Max 2024—where they finished third on the podium—are now targeting major offshore events, starting with the Rolex Fastnet Race on July 26, followed by the Transat Café L’Or Le Havre Normandie in October.
It was last autumn, during the prestigious double-handed race from Montpellier to Morocco, that their connection was made. Thomas Rouxel was sailing on the Viabilis-branded trimaran for the first time. Crossing the finish line in third place, both shared a clear impression: “That double-handed race with Thomas went really well, both personally and sport-wise,” Baptiste recalls. “We spent many days together on the water and immediately clicked.”
Thomas, meanwhile, was impressed by Baptiste’s calm demeanor and steady attitude: “Baptiste is composed and keeps his mood stable even during tough moments. That’s a real strength offshore. He sets clear goals and knows exactly where he wants to go.”
It was no surprise that the idea of a longer-term collaboration quickly emerged. “We discussed it soon after Med Max,” adds Baptiste. “And it worked out well because Thomas was eager to compete in the 2025 season.”
For Thomas Rouxel, returning to competition after a family break—during which he spent eight months sailing around the Atlantic—this project came at the perfect time: “It’s exactly what I was looking for. Getting back to the sea, and in a multihull, which I love above all else. Ocean Fiftys are extraordinary machines: demanding, fast, and full of adrenaline. They’re like superbikes that require constant fine-tuning.”
The duo has kicked off their campaign with an intense training period in Saint-Malo, before heading to Cowes on July 26 for the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race—their first shared race of the season, promising fierce competition. Nine Ocean Fiftys will set off on a challenging 695-nautical-mile course through the English Channel and Celtic Sea. “It’s an intense event and a qualifier for the Transat Café L’Or,” explains Baptiste. “It will give us a chance to gauge our position in the fleet and continue refining our double-handed teamwork.”
After the Fastnet Race, Viabilis Océans will undergo maintenance throughout August, tended to by the BE Racing teams in Saint-Malo, to prepare for a busy autumn schedule: the 24h Ultim race from September 25 to 28, followed by the Transat Café L’Or departure from Le Havre on October 26.
This Atlantic crossing will not be a first for either skipper: Thomas has sailed it three times in multihulls—once in 2017 on the Ultim Gitana, then in 2021 and 2023 aboard Sodebo Ultim. Baptiste competed in the Class40 category during the last two editions.
Trust, commitment, and mutual respect define this partnership, with both men determined to perform at their best and give their all in every offshore race on their 2025 calendar.
Source: courseaularge
