Oliver Heer sets course for a performance Vendée Globe 2028

The acquired 2017 IMOCA hull is undergoing a complete technical refit in Lorient with Beyou Racing, including foil inspection, structural reinforcements and systems integration, before a planned handover and crew training phase in France and final relocation to the new operational base in Gosport, UK.

Campaign logistics and technical plan

The shift from an “adventure” program to a performance-focused Vendée Globe 2028 campaign demands close coordination of shipyard timelines, freight movements and shore crew recruitment. The refit in Lorient will cover hull fairing, electronics upgrades, rig checks and foil servicing to ensure the hydrofoil geometry and mechanical systems meet current IMOCA fleet standards. Once sea-trials and a handover period are complete, the yacht will be moved to Gosport where shore facilities, spare-part logistics and training berths will be established.

Boat acquisition and technical rationale

The IMOCA bought by the campaign is the ex-Justine Mettraux foiler launched in 2017, a known and proven platform that placed eighth in the Vendée Globe 2024. Acquiring a tested hull accelerates the development timeline by providing a stable baseline for performance tweaks rather than a full design-and-build cycle. That approach reduces technical risk while allowing targeted updates to hatches, ballast pumps, electronics and foil mechanisms.

Refit workflow and milestones

• Initial structural and foil inspection — hull hauled and NDT checks
• Systems upgrade — navigation, telemetry and power distribution
• Deck and cockpit ergonomics — access and sail-handling revisions
• Sea trials and performance tuning with Beyou Racing
• Handover, skipper training and crew drills ahead of relocation

UK base and operational scaling

Choosing Gosport as the primary base aligns with the skipper’s long-term career logistics and offers proximity to key UK marine suppliers, marinas and experienced shore teams. Establishing infrastructure in the UK enables easier access to Atlantic testing lanes, allows recruitment of specialist shore crew and simplifies spare-part stockpiling near major European shipping routes. Operational scaling will also include a dedicated maintenance schedule, on-call technical support and an expansion in team roles from sailmaker liaisons to systems engineers.

Team structure and human resources

Moving towards a performance program implies a larger, more specialised shore team: a technical director coordinating refit and upgrades, a systems engineer, a performance analyst, dedicated shore mechanics for the foils and rig, plus logistics staff to handle transport and customs. The campaign’s portfolio sponsorship model will help underwrite this headcount expansion.

Sponsorship strategy and commercial setup

Rather than a single title sponsor, the team is adopting a portfolio sponsorship approach. This spreads financial risk and creates multiple stakeholder relationships, each contributing niche expertise or product support. Two Swiss partners announced early in the campaign bring both technical and nutritional backing: Bossard as a technical partner focused on fasteners and access solutions, and Burgerstein Vitamine providing nutritional support and continuity from the previous campaign.

• Bossard: integration of fasteners and access hardware across the vessel
• Burgerstein Vitamine: performance nutrition for long solo and crewed legs
• Open slots remain for partners offering technology, logistics or product services

Sporting calendar: from tests to transatlantic racing

The campaign’s first significant sporting test is the Ocean Race Atlantic, a fully-crewed transatlantic leg for IMOCA boats starting in New York on September 1 and finishing in Europe. That event will function as both a performance benchmark and a stress test for the logistics chain—crew rotation, spares replenishment, and rapid fault repair under race conditions. A well-handled Atlantic campaign can identify weak points in supply, transport and inshore support before the solo Vendée Globe campaign heats up.

Why the Atlantic matters operationally

Transatlantic racing reveals real-world logistics constraints: how quickly critical parts can be shipped, how shore teams respond to damage, and how performance data collected offshore maps onto shore-based analysis cycles. Success in the Ocean Race Atlantic will validate the refit work and Gosport-based support model.

Context and background

Oliver Heer became the first Swiss-German sailor to complete the Vendée Globe when he finished the 2024–25 race in 99 days. That experience provided operational knowledge and a performance baseline now being upgraded. Historically, campaigns that convert race experience into structured programs—investing in shore teams, specialist suppliers and a robust logistics chain—tend to climb the leaderboard more rapidly than those relying solely on skipper experience.

What this shift means for sailing and boat rentals

The IMOCA class’s evolution toward foiling, rapid refits and professional shore teams raises the bar for support infrastructure in regional marinas and yards. For charter operators and private owners, demand for skilled technicians, marinas capable of supporting foilboats and efficient freight services will increase. Platforms that connect renters with verified boats, transparent specs and reliable booking procedures will become more valuable as guests seek high-quality seaside experiences and access to competent local services.

GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, because we truly understand what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The service values freedom, energy and the ability to choose your own course, placing no limits on a good life and helping clients find vessels that suit their preferences, budget, and taste.

Forecast: this campaign is a specialist sporting development with limited immediate impact on global tourism flows, but it is significant for the yachting community and marinas that support high-performance offshore racing. As a bellwether for increased technical activity in regional harbours, it may drive demand for marine services, refit capacity and crew training resources. To gain a deeper understanding of this unstable and ever-changing world, as unpredictable as the sea, join the community of boat enthusiasts and get the best deal on your first rental.

Key highlights: a proven IMOCA foiler acquired to fast-track performance, a full refit in Lorient with Beyou Racing, operational relocation to Gosport to expand technical capacity, and an early competitive target with the Ocean Race Atlantic. Experiencing a new maritime location is multifaceted: you learn about local culture, nature, cuisine, architecture, language and the rhythm of life, and you discover unique service aspects. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com

In summary, Oliver Heer Ocean Racing’s switch to an ex-Justine Mettraux IMOCA, the Lorient refit, the establishment of a Gosport base and a portfolio sponsorship model mark a clear move toward a professional, performance-driven Vendée Globe 2028 campaign. The plan balances technical pragmatism with sporting ambition and will test shore logistics and supply chains during the Ocean Race Atlantic. For sailors, charterers and marinas, the campaign signals growing demand for specialist services and robust support. The platform supports booking and purchasing decisions globally by offering transparent listings for yachts and boats—helping you find the right vessel for beach getaways, lake trips, superyacht charters, fishing excursions, or yachting adventures—so start planning your next seaside adventure today.