Team BeYou Racing
Charal Sailing Team, commercially known as Team BeYou Racing, is a French IMOCA 60 professional offshore sailing team based in Lorient, funded primarily by title sponsor Charal (Groupe Bigard) and competing globally in Vendée Globe, Transat Jacques Vabre, and Route du Rhum.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLorient, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Team BeYou Racing does
Team BeYou Racing, commercially operating as the Charal Sailing Team, is a professional French offshore sailing team founded in 2017 as a partnership between skipper Jérémie Beyou and Charal, a meat-processing subsidiary of Groupe Bigard. The team is headquartered in Lorient, Brittany, and competes in the IMOCA 60 class with two monohull racing yachts: Charal 1 (launched August 2018, the first IMOCA 60 designed entirely around foils) and Charal 2 (launched July 2022, featuring the narrowest hull in the class, a scow bow, and V-shaped foils). The team participates in the IMOCA Globe Series, including the Vendée Globe, Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Rhum, Vendée Arctique, Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, and Défi Azimut. Charal 2 was completely rebuilt with a new hull and relaunched in June 2025 ahead of the next racing campaign.
The team's product is technically and engineering-driven: 15 engineers (5 in-house plus external contributors) and over 100 construction specialists delivered Charal 2 across approximately 35,000 design hours and 40,000 construction hours, with architecture by Sam Manuard and construction at CDK Technologies. Onboard technology integrates Garmin's Empire Bus system, F1-grade sensors on rigging and appendages feeding real-time data via fiber optics to the navigation console, and the MARQ Captain smartwatch for skipper biometric and navigation monitoring. The team has recorded nine podium finishes between 2019 and 2022, including a 3rd place at the 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre and 2nd at the 2022 Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, and a 4th place at the 2024-2025 Vendée Globe.
The business model is sponsorship-funded rather than product-selling. Charal (Groupe Bigard) is the title sponsor, with the partnership extended through 2026 and described as providing the majority of funding. Supplementary revenue comes from technical partnerships (Garmin, MUSTO, North Sails, Bollé, DeWalt, Suzuki Marine, Sena Marine, VPLP, CDK Technologies, Gepeto Composite, C3 Technologies, Sam Manuard Architecture, Aäsgard, EOL) and race prize money. The team monetizes the sponsorship through brand visibility, experiential marketing (40,000 race-village visitors, zip line, cooking workshops), educational outreach (11,000+ downloads of the Vendée Globe school kit), and commercial activations (6 million custom packaging units, in-store promotions). The team has no external products or services sold to customers and operates as a marketing asset for its title sponsor.
Team BeYou Racing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Team BeYou Racing
- Legal name
- Charal Sailing Team
- Website
- https://charalsailingteam.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Charal Sailing Team, commercially known as Team BeYou Racing, is a French IMOCA 60 professional offshore sailing team based in Lorient, funded primarily by title sponsor Charal (Groupe Bigard) and competing globally in Vendée Globe, Transat Jacques Vabre, and Route du Rhum.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Team BeYou Racing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Sailing Team
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.) (MPAKABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Motorsports Driver & Rider Management / Representation (MPAKAGAG)
Keywords
Where Team BeYou Racing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lorient
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Team BeYou Racing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Title Sponsorship (Charal): Primary sponsorship from Charal (French meat company, Groupe Bigard) providing the majority of funding. Partnership extended through 2026. Includes branding rights on boat, team uniforms, and event activations.
- Technical Partnerships: Partnerships with equipment and technology providers (Garmin, MUSTO, Bollé, DeWalt, Sena Marine, Suzuki Marine) who provide products in exchange for branding visibility and technical endorsement.
- Race Prize Money: Competition earnings from podium finishes in IMOCA Globe Series races including Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race (2nd place 2022), Transat Jacques Vabre (3rd place 2021), and other events.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Team BeYou Racing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Team BeYou Racing operates a professional IMOCA 60 ocean racing campaign fielding the foiling monohulls Charal 1 and Charal 2, competing in major offshore events (Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Vendée Arctique, Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, Défi Azimut). The team's commercial value is delivered to title sponsor Charal (Groupe Bigard) through high-visibility race performance, branded boat and skipper exposure, and 360-degree marketing activations spanning race villages, in-store promotions, social media, and educational outreach.
Product overview
Team BeYou Racing (Charal Sailing Team) operates as a competitive offshore sailing team competing in IMOCA 60 class ocean racing. The team fields two IMOCA 60 monohull racing yachts: Charal 1 (launched 2018, the first IMOCA designed specifically around foils) and Charal 2 (launched 2022, featuring an ultra-narrow hull and scow bow design). The team participates in major ocean races including the Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, and Vendée Arctique.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Charal 1: First IMOCA 60 launched in August 2018, the first IMOCA entirely designed around foils
- Charal 2
Products and services
- IMOCA 60 Charal 2 Second-generation foiling IMOCA 60 monohull racing yacht featuring the narrowest hull in the IMOCA class, a scow-bow profile for preserved power at zero heel, and V-shaped foils optimized for stability at 24-26 knots. Developed for the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 and subsequent IMOCA campaigns, integrating Garmin Empire Bus cockpit electronics and F1-grade fiber-optic sensors.
- IMOCA 60 Charal 1 First-generation IMOCA 60 foiling monohull racing yacht — the first IMOCA entirely designed around large foils. Featured narrow hull, forward-facing bow, and integrated sensor systems comparable to F1 technology. Operated across Route du Rhum 2018, Vendée Globe 2020-2021, and Transat Jacques Vabre 2019/2021 campaigns.
- Sponsorship and Brand Activation Program Integrated corporate sponsorship and brand activation offering delivered to enterprise sponsors via elite IMOCA 60 race participation. Provides branded on-boat and uniform visibility, race village hospitality and interactive experiences (zip line, cooking workshops, autograph sessions), national media exposure at the Vendée Globe and other IMOCA events, social media amplification, in-store retail promotions with custom packaging, and educational kit distribution to schools across France.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9 podium finishes since 2019 including 2nd place at Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race 2022 and 3rd place at Transat Jacques Vabre 2021
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Team BeYou Racing
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Team BeYou Racing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Team BeYou Racing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GarmincoreTechnology partner providing navigation instruments including GNX displays (showing TWD, AWA, COG parameters), GC 200 cameras for deck visibility, radar for safety, GPSMAP for cockpit integration, and MARQ Captain smartwatch for performance monitoring. Charal 2 will be fully equipped with Garmin Empire Bus system.
- MUSTOcoreTechnical clothing partner for 10 years, providing gear that allows Jérémie to navigate in harsh conditions. MUSTO develops equipment specifically for extreme offshore sailing conditions.
- Sam Manuard ArchitecturecoreNaval architecture firm led by Sam Manuard, selected for Charal 2 design. Known for user-centered approach and strong architectural convictions. Provides ongoing design collaboration and engineering support.
- CDK TechnologiescorePrimary boat construction yard at Lorient/Port-la-Forêt. Built both Charal 1 (2018) and Charal 2 (2022). Maintains trust relationship for continued quality construction.
- Gepeto CompositecoreComposites workshop handling foil wells construction and modification, hull mold shaping, and deck preparation. Mobilized 100% of staff for critical Charal 2 hull transformation project.
- C3 TechnologiescoreFoil construction specialist near La Rochelle. Built new V2 foils for 2020 Vendée Globe preparation and Charal 2 foils for 2022 season.
- North SailscoreSail manufacturer providing complete sail inventory for IMOCA boats. Collaborated on new sail design based on learning from multiple races, producing comprehensive playbook for Vendée Globe sails.
- VPLP (Van Petten Lauriol Harriott & Partners)coreArchitecture firm that designed Charal 1 in collaboration with team engineers. Provided 9 hull designs tested in numerical basin. Used Emirates Team New Zealand simulator for V2 foil optimization.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Team BeYou Racing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Team Paprec Arkéa: Yoann Richomme's IMOCA 60 program co-sponsored by Paprec and Crédit Mutuel Arkéa. Direct competitor in the same IMOCA races with similar co-sponsor commercial model and engineering footprint in France.
- Team Holcim-PRB: IMOCA 60 campaign skippered by Kevin Escoffier, backed by Holcim, racing in the same ocean-racing circuit (Vendée Globe, The Ocean Race) and operating a foil-equipped monohull with similar engineering partnerships.
- Biotherm (Paul Meilhat): IMOCA 60 team led by Paul Meilhat, sponsored by Biotherm. Direct competitor in the IMOCA class with comparable boat-design philosophy and the same race calendar.
- 11th Hour Racing Team: American IMOCA 60 team skippered by Charlie Enright that competes in the same Vendée Globe / IMOCA Globe Series calendar as Charal, with a similar CSR-driven sponsor (11th Hour Racing Foundation) and comparable engineering scale.
- Gitana Team (Edmond de Rothschild): Maxi Edmond de Rothschild / Gitana ocean-racing team competing across Ultim and IMOCA, with engineering operations also in Lorient. Overlap in boat-design partners (VPLP) and French offshore-racing ecosystem.
- V and B - Monbana - Mayenne (Maxime Sorel): IMOCA 60 team of Maxime Sorel with a French SME-driven sponsorship consortium (V and B, Monbana, Mayenne). Same IMOCA race calendar and comparable France-based operating model.
- SVR Lazartigue: IMOCA 60 team skippered by Tom Laperche, sponsored by Lazartigue. Comparable foil-equipped new-generation IMOCA design and direct rival in the same race series.
- Apivia - Charlie Dalin: IMOCA 60 team of Charlie Dalin, sponsored by Apivia (Macif/Covéa group). Same class, same race programme, similar engineering partners (Mer Forte, CDK Technologies) and direct head-to-head competitor.
- Initiatives-Cœur: IMOCA 60 team skippered by Sam Davies, sponsored by Initiatives-Cœur. French IMOCA competitor with similar sponsorship-driven model and active in the same races.
- Fortinet - Best Western (Romain Attanasio): IMOCA 60 team of Romain Attanasio backed by Fortinet and Best Western. Direct competitor in the IMOCA class with a multi-corporate sponsor model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Team BeYou Racing social profiles
Digital presenceTeam BeYou Racing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Team BeYou Racing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Team BeYou Racing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Team BeYou Racing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Team BeYou Racing
What does Team BeYou Racing do?
Team BeYou Racing operates a professional IMOCA 60 ocean racing campaign fielding the foiling monohulls Charal 1 and Charal 2, competing in major offshore events (Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Vendée Arctique, Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, Défi Azimut). The team's commercial value is delivered to title sponsor Charal (Groupe Bigard) through high-visibility race performance, branded boat and skipper exposure, and 360-degree marketing activations spanning race villages, in-store promotions, social media, and educational outreach.
Is Team BeYou Racing a public or private company?
Team BeYou Racing is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Team BeYou Racing founded?
Team BeYou Racing was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Team BeYou Racing based?
Team BeYou Racing is headquartered in Lorient, France, in the Europe region.
How does Team BeYou Racing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Title Sponsorship (Charal) is the primary driver. The others are technical Partnerships and race Prize Money.
Who are Team BeYou Racing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Team Paprec Arkéa, Team Holcim-PRB, Biotherm (Paul Meilhat), 11th Hour Racing Team, Gitana Team (Edmond de Rothschild), V and B - Monbana - Mayenne (Maxime Sorel), SVR Lazartigue, Apivia - Charlie Dalin, Initiatives-Cœur and Fortinet - Best Western (Romain Attanasio).
Does Team BeYou Racing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Team BeYou Racing.
What industry is Team BeYou Racing in?
Team BeYou Racing's product category is Professional Sailing Team. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKABAB, Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.), with a secondary code of MPAKAGAG, Motorsports Driver & Rider Management / Representation. Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7948.