Alan Roura's Swiss Offshore Team aims to come back stronger than ever in 2026
by Team AMAALA 5 Feb 17:04 GMT
Team AMAALA, skippered by Alan Roura finishes leg 3 during The Ocean Race Europe in Nice © Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Europe
Following the successful launch of the team in 2025, the Geneva-based skipper is more determined than ever to bring together Switzerland's sailing talent for The Ocean Race, the crewed round-the-world race. The search for partners and continued training will be the priority at the start of this year.
Launched a year ago, the Swiss offshore racing team project will evolve in 2026. Conceived by Alan Roura, Simon Koster, and Elodie Jane Mettraux and developed in record time, the Swiss Offshore Team made a lasting impression in 2025. The team's relevance and freshness brought a touch of good humor and freshness to The Ocean Race Europe, the flagship event of the IMOCA class crewed season.
Between August and September, from Kiel to the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, Team AMAALA gave several Swiss sailors of the new generation a chance to get their foot in the door.
Unwavering motivation and "insane momentum"
Although the Swiss team did not really have the technical means to compete at the top of the table, with a project launched late thanks to the commitment of a last-minute sponsor, the most important thing for Alan Roura and Simon Koster was elsewhere. With the oldest boat in the fleet and its outdated foils, the two sailors and the next generation they mentored for several weeks never gave up and gained valuable experience.
The inspiring story of these young sailors—several of whom had never even spent a night at sea before embarking on this adventure—left no one indifferent. Whether on the pontoons, among the other teams, or among the general public—with more than 5.5 million views in the media and on social networks—everyone understood the approach of this team unlike any other.
"I am more determined than ever to get the project back on track," explained Alan Roura, while sailing his boat back from AMAALA in the Red Sea to its home port of Lorient. "Because we all want to go further. To see further. Last year, we realized that there was an incredible dynamic within and around this team, and we want that to continue. "
The Geneva-based skipper, renowned for his resilience and tenacity, will therefore devote all his energy to this after the end of the partnership with AMAALA. Ideally, the team would like to find as much support as possible from Swiss companies, to give even more meaning and real visibility to Swiss expertise.
A "strong and united" group
Despite a complicated economic climate that is not conducive to the creation of new partnerships, optimism remains high. Thanks to AMAALA and Hublot, a strong project has been launched. "There's no question of giving up," says the 32-year-old sailor. "We are convinced that among all the people who believe in this project, some will decide to take the plunge."
In terms of the calendar, the sporting outlook remains unchanged. "In 2026, the big event will be The Ocean Race Atlantic, between New York and Europe, which will be raced by mixed crews this fall," Alan explains. "And very soon after that, in 2027, it will be followed by a round-the-world race with The Ocean Race. So things are going to move very quickly and there's no time to lose."
"Of course, we would all have preferred the project to continue as planned, because for a while we're going to lose the comfort of being able to plan ahead and train early in the season," explains Guillaume Rol, one of the talents who came to prominence in 2026. "The main objective at the start of this year will therefore be to convince new partners."
Like all the other team members who have discovered the open sea, the young Swiss sailor remains in good spirits. "My motivation is intact," he says. "And the experience I gained in The Ocean Race Europe, discovering what a race of this level on such boats can be like, can only encourage me to want to continue on this path. This first experience allowed us to quickly create a strong and united group."
Crew, double-handed, solo, offshore and lake competitions: a vast and comprehensive program
As for the offshore part, the choice of boat is still open, with two possibilities. A complete overhaul of the current boat, which is in need of a facelift, especially new foils, in order to compete with the best. Or the acquisition of a newer boat that would offer more performance guarantees and simplified season planning. "There are many options and several boats on the market," says Alan Roura, who makes no secret of his preference for a change of boat, depending on the financial opportunities that arise.
And while the project is primarily focused on crewed sailing and sharing skills, the Swiss Offshore Team does not want to rule out offering one of its members the opportunity to try their hand at double-handed or even solo sailing. The 2026 Rhum and the 2028 Vendée Globe could thus showcase an emerging talent in Swiss sailing, as well as a more seasoned sailor.
To add even more value to the project, the collective is also focused on strengthening its presence in Switzerland. This includes developing various racing and training programs on secondary platforms and organizing events with local organizations. The team remains driven by the idea of offering a professional approach to crewed sailing and opening its doors to the sailors of tomorrow, even the youngest ones.
"With all the opportunities available to us, the team will need to expand and recruit more and more new young talent," continues Alan Roura. The Ocean Race is a demanding and long race, and we will need people to keep the crew going over the long term. The goal is also for the project to exist, evolve, and inspire beyond its first crew. Thanks to partnerships with schools and sailing clubs throughout Switzerland, we will be able to breathe new life into the sport on a national scale."
Enthusiasm, motivation, transmission... As Alan Roura says: "All that's left to do is get started!"