Swiss sailors unite behind ambitious new initiative: Swiss Offshore Team
by The Ocean Race 27 Sep 02:23 PDT
Helicopter image of Alan Roura and Hublot between Groix and Belle-Île-en-Mer © Jean-Guy Python
A new Swiss national offshore sailing team is being established, aiming to train young sailors and participate in top races on the IMOCA schedule, whether solo, double, or fully-crewed.
Key objectives include excelling in The Ocean Race Europe in 2025, competing in The Ocean Race around the globe in 2027, and aiming for the Vendée Globe in 2028.
The initiative seeks to bring together Swiss sailors, leaders, and organizations under the Swiss Offshore Team: One team, two boats, engaging young men and women to achieve success while building on a legacy of Swiss expertise that originated over 40 years ago, following the pioneering efforts of Swiss ocean racing legend Pierre Fehlmann.
Alan Roura, Elodie Mettraux, and Simon Koster have collaborated on this project for several months, combining three strong personalities, three inspiring journeys, and three unique but complementary perspectives on professional sailing.
“I’m in the final stages of preparing for my third Vendée Globe with my team,” shares Alan Roura. “Fortunately, I can already consider what comes next, and it involves multiple avenues. With Simon and Elodie, things came together almost effortlessly. We have a boat, a base in Brittany, a high-functioning team, and a collective drive to participate in the crewed races of The Ocean Race following my third Vendée Globe campaign.”
Now 31 years old, Alan Roura aims to complete his third non-stop, unassisted solo circumnavigation in this year’s Vendée Globe. Proud of representing his country for a decade, the Genevan wishes to present a true Swiss identity for this new endeavor.
“Swiss sailing is experiencing a golden period,” he states. “There is vibrant energy in all areas and immense talent ready to shine across different types of boats. We aim to contribute positively to this movement with our project.”
“It’s exciting to participate in a Swiss initiative, with a Swiss vessel, Swiss sailors, and Swiss sponsors while pursuing our vision!” Elodie Mettraux noted. “I have extensive experience in The Ocean Race, having participated several times. It’s a demanding event, but a wonderful race that requires a large team for rotations during legs, which is what we will develop here.”
Simon Koster echoes this vision, noting that the timing is ideal for taking on this new challenge.
“The Ocean Race’s decision to focus on the IMOCA class is crucial for our plans,” states the Zurich-based sailor, who has been part of Hublot Sailing for two seasons. “Three Swiss sailors will compete in the next Vendée Globe (editor’s note: Alan Roura, Oliver Heer, and Justine Mettraux). It’s logical for at least one of these boats to participate in the upcoming crewed races.”
In terms of sporting development, a call for applications to join the Swiss Offshore Team will be issued in the coming months, with the co-skippers eager to attract diverse profiles. Whether from Olympic, offshore, America’s Cup backgrounds, or just freshwater sailors, anyone with big dreams can apply to be part of a team that values diversity at its core.
Everything kicks off in 2025 with participation in The Ocean Race Europe. Besides sporting advancement, this post-Vendée year will likely see plans for constructing or acquiring a more modern, high-performance IMOCA vessel than Alan Roura’s current monohull.
“In the future, the goal might be to have two boats in the team,” Alan Roura explains. “This would allow continuous sailing even when one is being built. It also aims to offer Switzerland two chances to establish itself in the international field of major crewed ocean races. The current boat could be sailed by a crew of talented youth developed within the team, while the second would be dedicated to the team’s professional sailors.”
The upcoming months will be critical in ensuring that this project garners enthusiasm and commitment from partners willing to support the Swiss Offshore Team long-term.
“We will prioritize Swiss businesses to maintain an identity synonymous with expertise and reliability,” Alan Roura explains. “We genuinely hope this collective initiative attracts as many partners as possible.”
Project Timeline:
2025
Launch of the Swiss Offshore Team
Initial selection phases
The Ocean Race Europe with Alan Roura’s current vessel (Hublot)
Double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre
2026
Purchase or initiation of construction for a state-of-the-art IMOCA yacht
Second selection phase
The Ocean Race Atlantic, a new mixed-crew event.
Record attempts
Route du Rhum
2027
The Ocean Race around the world with one or two boats: a young pro-am team and a double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre pro team.
2028
