YANMAR signs long-term agreement with IMOCA as Official Technical Partner

Wouter-Jan Van der Wurff and Antoine Mermod © YANMAR Marine International

YANMAR announces a long-term strategic partnership with the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA). Beginning in 2025, the company will become the official technical partner of the IMOCA Class.

As part of this agreement, YANMAR becomes the reference technical partner and the main supplier of next-generation marine engines and propulsion systems for IMOCA Class sailing yachts.

This partnership strengthens YANMAR's position as a global leader in the marine propulsion systems market, whose reliability and technical support have proven their value worldwide.

The annual IMOCA Globe Series Championship is based on a points system that rewards consistency and excellence. Through this ranking, skippers accumulate points throughout the year based on their performances in the IMOCA Globe Series races and the grade of each race, whether sailed single-handed, double-handed, or with a crew.

Today, IMOCA aims to drive meaningful change within the sailing world. Its mission is to foster progress not only within the IMOCA community but across offshore racing and the broader nautical discipline. This commitment to ocean protection and responsible practices is now well established, supported by concrete initiatives and strong collaboration with industry partners.

These values are fully shared by YANMAR, which has set itself the objective of becoming an environmentally neutral company, free of greenhouse gas emissions and based on the use of recyclable resources, as part of the Yanmar Green Challenge 2050.

Wouter-Jan Van der Wurff, President and CEO at YANMAR Marine International, said: "This is a fantastic partnership for us. We are delighted to support the IMOCA Class, which brings together the world's most advanced and innovative offshore racing yachts. This long-term partnership is based on our cutting-edge engine technology and our global support network. We admire and share the IMOCA Class's vision. Their approach perfectly aligns with our philosophy of a sustainable future, where humanity and nature thrive together."

Antoine Mermod, President of the IMOCA Class, said: "We are very pleased to begin this partnership with YANMAR. We share the same ambition: to combine technological innovation with a responsible vision of offshore racing. Together, we aim to contribute to the evolution of our sport and, more broadly, of the maritime industry."