On the 2016 race Thomas Ruyant was lying eighth when his IMOCA60 memorably hit a floating object hard while he was west of New Zealand. With his boat progressively splitting in half he nursed it into Bluff, New Zealand. Now Ruyant is back armed with a well sorted Verdier design LinkedOut which has proven highly potent. Third in the Vendée Arctique he is widely reckoned to be one of the podium contenders.
