Engineer. Offshore Sailor. 2032 Vendée Globe Challenger.

I’m Cameron Sword, a 22-year-old British engineering student and offshore sailor on a mission to compete in the Vendée Globe in 2032.

This isn’t a traditional pathway. I didn’t come through an elite national academy or a funded development squad. I’ve built this campaign myself balancing an aerospace engineering degree with high-performance offshore racing, securing partners, and immersing myself in the French sailing circuit to compete at the highest level.

My journey is about more than racing. It’s about proving that with determination, technical understanding, and the right partnerships, you can take on the most demanding challenge in solo sport.

The British Challenger in French Waters

The world of IMOCA and the Vendée Globe is overwhelmingly French. To compete seriously, you go where the best are to Lorient, the heart of offshore racing.

After graduation, I’m relocating to France’s “Sailing Valley” to campaign in the Figaro class and build toward an IMOCA programme. This isn’t about being an outsider; it’s about committing fully to the same pathway the top French sailors take learning, competing, and earning my place.

For British partners, that’s a powerful story: a UK engineer entering the epicentre of French ocean racing and taking on the world on its own terms.

The Engineer–Athlete

I study aerospace engineering because I’m fascinated by performance at the edge of possibility.

Modern offshore yachts, particularly the Vendée Globe fleet, are flying machines. Foils, composite structures, structural optimisation, hydrodynamics, systems integration, it’s engineering in its purest form.

My academic work focuses on hydrofoil performance and optimisation, applying CFD, structural analysis and performance modelling to real-world sailing systems. That technical mindset directly feeds into my racing:

Understanding performance trade-offs
Interpreting data under pressure
Communicating with designers and shore teams
Making informed decisions offshore when margins are razor-thin

I don’t just sail the boat, I understand how and why it works.

Building Toward 2032

The roadmap is clear:

2026–2030

Full Figaro 3 campaigns
Offshore championship racing
Integration into the French professional circuit
IMOCA qualification racing

2032

Vendée Globe qualification complete
November 2032: Start line

At 21, partners have the opportunity to be part of this journey from the beginning, not just supporting a finished product, but helping shape the trajectory.

What Drives Me

The Vendée Globe is widely regarded as the toughest solo sporting event in the world. Non-stop. No assistance. 24,000 nautical miles around the planet.

That’s exactly why it matters.

I’m driven by:

The pursuit of excellence
The challenge of mastering both human and machine
Representing British engineering and determination on the global stage
Inspiring young athletes and engineers to think bigger

This campaign isn’t built on hype. It’s built on work, technical preparation, racing miles, long-term planning, and meaningful partnerships.

Beyond the Boat

Sailing is only part of the story.

This campaign is about:

Engineering innovation
International ambition
Long-term strategic growth
Authentic storytelling
Building partnerships based on shared values

The right partners won’t just have a logo on a hull. They’ll be part of the journey — from development years in the Figaro to the start line of the Vendée Globe.