Date of birth: 31 October 1990
Place of birth: Rennes, France
Ever since he was a young man, Benjamin Ferré has been involved in a whole range of slightly crazy experiences: hitchhiking around the world to gather testimonials from former business school students who have become entrepreneurs in faraway countries, a 4L Trophy (a 4L raid in the Moroccan desert), and an old-fashioned Atlantic crossing, without GPS.
In 2017, he immersed himself in the world of ocean racing, starting with the Mini. In this class, which brings together a host of up-and-coming sailors and adventurers, his atypical profile does not stand out. Even better: ranked 3rd in the 2019 Mini Transat, Benjamin Envoie le Pépin - his stage name - is attracting a lot of attention and a few good fairies, including Jean Le Cam, who sees in him an excellent candidate for the Vendée Globe.
In 2024, the sailor-entrepreneur lined up at the start in Les Sables d'Olonne aboard an IMOCA (Paul Meilhat's former boat), which he sailed valiantly to 16th place, in the lead among daggerboard boats.
Recognising his unique strengths, Meilhat brought Benjamin aboard Biotherm for the three Mediterranean legs of the victorious The Ocean Race Europe campaign. Meilhat praised him as the teammate who brought “freshness, desire, and energy to the second part of the course,” along with a sharp intuition and carefree creativity that invigorated a crew worn down by 20 days at sea.
This summer, Benjamin reunites with Meilhat and Mariana Lobato as they set their sights on winning The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026.
Sailing highlights
- 1st in The Ocean Race Europe 2025 with Paul Meilhat onboard Biotherm
- 16th in the Vendée Globe 2024-25 (1st daggerboard IMOCA)
- 4th in the Vendée Arctique 2022
- 3rd in the Mini Transat 2019
- Crossing the Atlantic on a sextant in 2015
