Biography

A childhood dream born in the Vendée Globe village.

I was born on 11 January 2007 in Lyon. After moving to the Paris region at 7, I discovered sailing and offshore racing in my last year of primary school, on a class trip to the Vendée Globe 2016 village in Les Sables d’Olonne. A childhood dream was born. I then learned to sail at Les Glénans, Europe’s leading sailing school, alongside demanding studies in the Paris region.

At 17, I took my first steps in offshore racing, discovering the Mini 6.50 through several training sessions and deliveries. I also took on internships and volunteer work preparing race boats in every class.

At 18, I joined the University of Southampton to study naval architecture, following in the footsteps of great names in racing and yacht design on the best course in the world in this field. I race regularly on the Solent and Channel circuits, building valuable racing and performance experience. At 19, I sailed an IMOCA, the Vendée Globe boats, for the first time, and the dream became real.

I am now launching the preparation of my Mini Transat project, with three more years of studies, racing and training ahead.

Download CV (PDF) ↓
Jules Poulain on the dock in front of a rigged racing yacht, a crew member working on deck behind him.
2007 Born in Lyon
2016 Vendée Globe village, Les Sables d’Olonne
2022 – 2024 Offshore cruises with Les Glénans
2024 First Mini 6.50 deliveries
2025 University of Southampton, naval architecture
2026 First IMOCA delivery

Race team experience

2022 Banque Populaire Intern Ultim trimaran
2024 MOD70 and Mini 6.50 Volunteer boat preparator Trimaran / Mini
2025 SKAW Sailing Intern Foiling Mini 6.50 Nicomatic
2025 FourthCape (Cowes) Employee
2026 Beyou Racing Intern IMOCA Charal 2

Licences and certifications

  • Coastal boat licence
  • World Sailing certification (survival at sea)
  • First aid certificate
  • Driving licence (theory)