Team Malizia

Axelle Pillain

Crew Member

France

French sailor Axelle Pillain began sailing in dinghies near her hometown of Brest in the west of France when she was just six years old. However, it was only after she finished a successful career as a gymnast that she took up offshore racing – including participating in the 2019 Mini Transat.

In 2019 after completing her PhD in applied mathematics for brain imaging Pillain traded her medical school place to pursue a career in professional sailing. She has since become well known on the French ocean racing scene doing technical navigation on maxi trimarans like Spindrift and IMOCAs such as CORUM L’Épargne before joining Team Malizia for her first participation in The Ocean Race.

Previous participation in The Ocean Race:
Taking part in The Ocean Race for the first time.


  • French sailor Axelle Pillain began sailing in dinghies near her hometown of Brest in the west of France when she was just six years old. However, it was only after she finished a successful career as a gymnast that she took up offshore racing – including participating in the 2019 Mini Transat.

    In 2019 after completing her PhD in applied mathematics for brain imaging Pillain traded her medical school place to pursue a career in professional sailing. She has since become well known on the French ocean racing scene doing technical navigation on maxi trimarans like Spindrift and IMOCAs such as CORUM L’Épargne before joining Team Malizia for her first participation in The Ocean Race.

    Previous participation in The Ocean Race:
    Taking part in The Ocean Race for the first time.