Biotherm - Paul Meilhat: “An amazing team spirit!”

With just days to go before the big start, we're continuing our presentation of the teams. Today, we spotlight Biotherm and a true aficionado of The Ocean Race: Paul Meilhat. Two years after sailing around the world with stopovers, Paul was eager to take part in this European tour. He’ll be racing on a versatile, well-tested boat alongside an experienced crew: Amélie Grassi, Jack Boutell, Sam Goodchild, and Benjamin Ferré. In short, everything is in place to challenge for the front and aim high.

With Paul Meilhat, “we” often replaces “I.” Sure, he finished 5th in the Vendée Globe this past winter as one of the persistent in the chasing pack in grueling conditions.

But now, he’s excited for a more collective challenge — not only on board, but with his technical team. “The technical team is just as committed as the skippers,” he says. “Usually, they wave the boat off and that’s it. But in The Ocean Race, they’re involved at every stop — repairing the boat, rejoining, flying back and forth. It creates an amazing team dynamic!”

A taste for discovery

Paul knows what he’s talking about — he sailed the last edition of The Ocean Race (4th overall). “The Ocean Race Europe is a natural follow-up, with a similar format. Logistically and financially, it’s a bit easier too.” Paul says he’s “been trying to join for two years.” He’s excited to explore new sailing grounds — “I’ve never raced in the Adriatic, and racing in the Med is always different” — and to team up with new crewmates — “It’s my first time racing with Sam, Jack, and Benjamin.”

The team was built around the duo of Paul and Amélie Grassi. Already part of The Ocean Race, Amélie (also Alan Roberts’ partner, a crew member on Holcim-PRB) is now more involved in the project. “She plays a bigger role,” Paul explains. Everyone in the crew has experience at the highest level, sharpening their competitive edge.

A full-on Northern prep

When it comes to goals, Paul refers back to The Ocean Race: “We were a bit short on time and resources back then.” Two years later, “the project has matured,” and with this crew, “we are aiming for a strong result.” “The wide variety of conditions should favor more versatile boats,” he adds — noting Holcim-PRB is “clearly the favorite.”

At Biotherm, no stone was left unturned. The IMOCA launched in late May — “a bit later than others” — but it was a deliberate choice. “The past three years have been intense with the boat build, The Ocean Race, the Vendée Globe… We all needed a break.” Once relaunched, they headed north — training in Scandinavia, particularly around Sandhamn, near Stockholm.

The duo of Paul and Amélie finished 2nd in the Gotland Runt at the end of June — a 400-mile race around Gotland, attracting over 250 boats each year. “It’s kind of like the Fastnet Race of the Baltic,” laughs Paul. It was a great chance to refine teamwork, soak up the race energy again, and train in the conditions expected during The Ocean Race Europe. Now, they’re ready for next Sunday’s start in Kiel.

Meet the Biotherm crew

Amélie Grassi
31, French
“Amélie took part in The Ocean Race with us. She knows the boat and the team really well. We wanted her to be even more involved pre-launch, and now she plays a bigger role. She’s highly motivated and committed to continuing in IMOCA. She’s also been sailing a lot in Class40, Ultim, and IMOCA over the past few years. We’re lucky to have her on board.”

Benjamin Ferré
34, French
“Very different but very complementary profile. We met three years ago — he invited me to sail on his boat, my former SMA, while Biotherm was under construction. We’ve stayed close ever since. Benjamin brings great energy and positivity. His experience with centerboard boats will be valuable in the Med with all the maneuvers we’ll need to make!”

Jack Boutell
34, Anglo-Australian
“I really wanted Jack on my team — and hope he’s with us again if we do another The Ocean Race. He’s a top crewmember and has won the last two around-the-world races. He’s also experienced in double-handed sailing: Jack sailed with Samantha Davies on a boat with foils like ours. He adapts fast — shows up with his bag and boots and is ready to go!”

Sam Goodchild
35, British
“I’m thrilled to have Sam on board. He’s super versatile and highly experienced. He’s juggling a heavy program right now (Macif, Banque Populaire), but we’ll make sure he can focus on the race and be as effective as possible. Sam has great feel for the boat — like Jack, he’s a machine on board!”

Gauthier Lebec
31, French, OBR
“We did a 48-hour offshore together in early June. We chose him for his experience — he sailed The Ocean Race on Guyot-Environnement. That’s a real asset for The Ocean Race Europe, where OBRs will be very active, especially with the pro-am races between legs. It was key to pick someone who knows the organization and this kind of race.”