Lionel Lemonchois likes to keep well away from the lights and the cameras. Yet few skippers have such a lavish racing record”
(Jean-Christophe Guillaumin,
multihulls.com).

A professional racer-skipper and exceptional boat preparer, Lionel’s carrier spans solo oceanic races (notably, the winner of the 2006 Route du Rhum on the 80ft Gitana XI maxi Trimaran and 2010 Route du Rhum in the Multi50 Class on Prince de Bretagne), non-stop around the world races (winner of the Trophée Jules Vernes in 2010 with Franck Cammas), crewed oceanic races (winner of the 2005 Jacques Vabre) and special passage records (2008, setting both records on the New York – San Francisco around the cape Horn and San Francisco – Yokohama passages), sharing adventures with other fellow skippers as Isabelle Autissier, Bruno Peyron, Franck Cammas.

He is also certified as an offshore commercial yacht master, contributing significant skills in both crew management, safety and medical emergency chapters.

Lionel is the co-founder of Boreal Adventure Sailing and skipper of VARUNA. Dedicated to sharing his passion for sailing and nature, he is likeable and easygoing, “infatigable” as often defined by fellow skippers. Sailing and exploring the high latitudes with him you will be exposed to depth of experience and applied knowledge on all facets of sailing and seamanship.

Alex is our captain on INTREPIDO. A certified RYA Ocean Yachtmaster, he has extensive experience of sailing in cold, remote waters, including sailing & skiing expeditions to South Georgia and Antarctica, as well as transatlantic convoying.

In addition, Alex is trained in sea rescue (Red Cross), yacht design and construction (UPC University), diving instructor and ship security officer, among other qualifications. He brings solid mechanical and engineering skills (on-board engineer in Antarctica, participation in the construction of racing yachts) and strengthens our maintenance and repair capabilities on our own yachts.

Alex trained as a biologist and speaks several languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese).

Pascal Blouin is our permanent 3rd skipper, joining both vessels VARUNA and INTREPIDO on the most intensive offshore passages, as well as securing crew rotation over a number of months throughout each season.

He has crewed the most impressive multihulls, including as watch leader on Gitana 13 (skippered by Lionel Lemonchois) for the Hong Kong-London world record, as crew on Steve Fosset’s record setting Playstation 105ft catamaran (joining the round the Isle of Wight record).

As permanent staff for 4 years for the 105ft Maxi Trimaran Groupama 3, he co-held (bowman) various world records: Cadix to San Salvador, Miami/New-York, 24 hours (800 miles) and New-York/Cap Lizard. Previously, he was crew member of the Geronimo 110ft racing trimaran on 2 globe circumnavigations, including winning the Jules Vernes Trophy (63 days).

Outside racing, he has recurrently skippered large 85ft - 125ft sailing yachts over oceanic passages and in the Arctic.

Pascal also contributes extensive applied yacht-building and preparation experience, having performed as onboard chief engineer, consultant for large shipyards (rigging, sails, hardware tests, loads) and delivery coordinator at CNB. 

Brian has been running Ski & Sail tours in northern Norway for 15 years, including Svalbard for 7 years. A professional mountain guide / climbing guide / ski teacher / Arctic Guide and RYA sailing teacher.

Brian fits like a glove with Boreal Adventure Sailing’s spirit and operations.

He is the owner-operator of Swiss-Mountain-Guide.com which has been running for the past 19 years. He leads climb /ski / sail / Dive / multi-activity expeditions in more than 15 countries.

In the last 23 years as professional mountain guide he has become the lead guide for some amazing companies including the BBC, Pioneer Productions London, Amazon Prime, Adrenaline Films Florida and the top heliskiing operations worldwide.

Early in the season he tours Europe lecturing about avalanche awareness and rescue (book: Avalanche Know How).

A mechanical engineer graduated from Glasgow university, he speaks English and German.

Professional qualifications:

• International mountain guide:
  UIAGM IFMGA
• Climbing guide: UIAGM
• Ski guide: UIAGM
• Mountaineering Teacher:
  TUM Munich university
• Advanced Mountain first aid:
  DEUTSCHES ROTES KREUZ TUM
• Rope Access: UIAGM ( Level 2 )
• Expedition Leader: UIAGM
• Trekking leader: UIAGM
• Canyoning Guide: UIAGM
• Ski Teacher: ISA (SWISS )
• Arctic Guide: SESSELMAN SGO
• Kayak instructor: SCA
• Windsurf instructor: RYA
• Sailing teacher (inland): RYA
• Scuba Diving Teacher: NAUI

www.swiss-mountain-guide.com

Roman is part of our established team of mountain guides since 2022. An IFMGA guide since 2000, he is based out of Zermatt in Switzerland and is also a canyoning guide and snow sports instructor. Beyond skiing, he guides for hiking, mountaineering, rock-climbing, ice climbing and snowshoeing.

https://www.mymountainguide.com

Andres has made his dream a profession.

He has been a qualified IFMGA mountain guide for 13 years. Sponsored by Mammut, he carries numerous expeditions all around the world (Alaska, South America, Africa). When ski-mountaineering, he is continuously discovering new terrain, his preferred regions being Iceland, Norway, Japan and Alaska.

He also works as a profiler for the SLF (Snow and Avalanche Research Institute in Davos) and gives avalanche courses for beginners and advanced skiers every year.

www.steimaendli.ch

www.expositionnord.ch

Paul is active around the year across the world. The winter season spans ski tours, mountaineering, freeriding, heliskiing, ice climbing and snowshoe tours across the world. During the summer he guides for mountaineering, sport climbing, bouldering, trekking and biking.

He has guided in the Lyngen alps and farther north operating from a sailboat, being familiar with the specificities of our activity.

Professional qualifications:

• International mountain guide, UIAGM IFMGA
• IFMGA canyoning guide
• SBV & J&S expert
• Sport climbing trainer

Paul is fluent in French, German, Italian, English and Romansh.

www.pauldegonda.ch

www.alpventura.ch

Vartan has led an international professional life, having built his own business in corporate finance and industrial advisory. Active in many endurance sports, he is a committed skier and sailor with three Atlantic Ocean crossings under his belt.

Setting sail with his wife and three kids on “Kéraban Le Têtu”, their Cigale 16 fast-cruiser for a year around the Atlantic was a marking experience. Upon their return the path forward had to be different. A combination of purpose and luck, he crossed paths with Lionel with a shared vision…on they were to setup Boreal Adventure Sailing.

He contributes his operational experience with a focus on the underlying company processes – procurement, network of external partners and suppliers, sales and customer support…and hands on work supporting Lionel in getting the boat ready for the next season.

With Luse onboard it is easy to find an excuse to come back to the warm and cozy atmosphere of the boat.

Our First Mate and Chef, she will turn your voyage into a culinary experience and make sure that your nutritional preferences and needs are met to get you ready to and recover from your outdoor activities.

A certified First Mate, she is an experienced mariner, including a 3-year Atlantic tour on a sailboat and numerous assignments as First Mate and Chef on sailboats in the charter sector. She takes care of our food and kitchen procurement and logistics.

André lives a rich professional and private life. From young age, being active in nature has played a crucial role ever since. Water has been one of the most important elements for him in many ways (www.dropforlife.org).

He has been brought up skiing in the Swiss mountains. Skiing has led him to many beautiful places on this planet. Together with two friends, new adventures in extraordinary places are explored again and again. His latest discovery is sailing, which completes his passion for experiencing the wild and untouched in harmony with nature.

André knows Vartan professionally for over twenty years. Today, the relationship has grown into a strong and trusted friendship. He has crossed the Atlantic together with Vartan on his Cigale 16 “Kéraban Le Têtu” a few years ago.

André is supporting Boreal Adventure Sailing from the bottom of his heart as well as with his capacity as experienced manager and entrepreneur. One of his dreams is that one day, he can enjoy a trip on the Varuna in the Arctic together with his two sons.

www.dropforlife.org

www.expositionnord.ch 

Patrick has been professionally active in the sailing and exploration activity since the early 90s. His career started as diving instructor in the Red Sea and Mexico, cruise director and guide in the Maldives and the Seychelles and sailboat skipper in Myanmar.

In 2000 he established his sailing & diving sailboat charter company with bases in Thailand and Myanmar, pioneering many sailing routes and diving spots in a region which at the time was mostly uncharted. He currently owns and operates a yacht charter activity in Thailand as well as sizeable leisure & entertainment activities in Asia. 

He brings depth of experience in all key facets related to the management of travel & leisure activities with a focus on yachts and sailboats, from sales & marketing to development of internal processes and quality assurance.

Isabella has led an elite sports carrier in fencing (two times Swiss champion, several world cup podiums, 3rd Junior World Championships and currently European Masters Champion).

She’s an active sailor, including a year around the Atlantic with the family, and an assiduous trekker.

A lawyer by education (University of Bern), she has practiced for 15 years.

Following her passion for mountains and wilderness, she is part of Boreal Adventure Sailing from the onset, following PR, contractual and logistic matters. Fluent in Italian, French, German, Spanish and English.

Guy is a naval architecht and marine appraiser for racing sailboats. He has designed numerous sail and motorboats – with a focus on aluminum construction – for the most reputable shipyards including GARCIA. His activities also encompass the refit of large units.

His firm S3ID focuses on energy consumption optimization on boats, having participated in milestone projects such as Planet Solar (30m solar powered catamaran). He has also tackled out-of-the-box projects, such as designing the windurf board for Stéphane Peyron’s multiple solo ocean crossings.

Guy has led 2 sea Arctic expeditions: a 45 day exploration / documentary navigating as close as feasible to the Magnetic Pole on a purpose built Zodiac, and a 2 week sailing-exploration north of Illulisat (NW coast of Greenland).

He supports Boreal Adventure Sailing in selecting, preparing and maintaining our vessels for high-latitude sailing.