giant ocean multihulls Banque Populaire, Macif and Sodebo. Eighteen months later the Collectif has established parameters in co-operation with the French and international sailing federations in order to qualify multihulls that wish to race around the world in solo mode.
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The four principal parameters are an overall length between 24 and 32m (which excludes Spindrift 2!), a maximum beam of 23m, a mast height that cannot exceed 120 per cent of the longest hull and a minimum mast-foot height above the water of 1.70m for boats launched after 1 January 2015 and 1.40m for older boats. Patricia Brochard, president of the Collectif and CEO of Sodebo, said: ‘Before the end of this summer we will confirm a four-year schedule of two-handed and solo races. Our round-the-world non- stop solo event is of course the pinnacle and will be run in 2019. Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum will also be a part of the Ultimes Championship. For our big race in 2019 four cities are already favourite as start/finish hosts; we will announce our choice before the end of this year.’ Three new boats, Macif, Banque Populaireand Gitana, should be among the competitors in 2019, as well as Sodeboand the ex-Groupama 3, now the property of Idec (see below). ‘There must be at least two boats to start… obviously,’ said Patricia Brochard. ‘Five or six will be OK and seven will be perfect.’
(Major) match race
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Official confirmation that Francis Joyon will take the helm of the ‘new’ Idec(the 32m VPLP trimaran, winner of the two last Routes du Rhum as Groupama 3and then Banque Populaire) is anything but a sur- prise! In fact, it was the worst-kept secret in French sailing. When we learned that BP had been sold to an anonymous buyer, and in the meantime was on charter to Renaud Laplanche who is busy breaking records around the USA, it took little detective work to establish the boat is now the property of Idec and that Francis Joyon was due to take her over later to pursue more solo records. The big surprise is that for the first time in his career Francis is targeting a crewed attempt on the Trophée Jules Verne, held since 2012 by the 40m Banque Populaire Vskippered by Loïck Peyron (in 45d 13h). Prior to BP, Groupama 3 had held the same record for two years. Idec’s smiling 59-year-old skipper told me, ‘I have discovered a new boat for me, 2m longer than the previous Idec Sport and much more powerful so with huge speed potential. Groupama 3already sailed around the world in 48 days, with a less than ideal weather pattern. I am convinced this VPLP design [rigged with a shorter mast than the original] can cut several days off that time and potentially beat the record.’
As usual Francis is being fastidious about weight and there will only be six onboard for the Jules Verne attempt (G3sailed with 10, and Banque Pop V with 14). Francis is due to get his hands on his new Idec Sport in September and intends to be in the starting blocks at Brest from 1 November. A very short time for training. About the course, Francis does not need any preparation. He has already sailed it twice and twice he broke the solo record… The last time (taking 57d 13h) was in 2008. That is still the solo time to beat and remains the fourth-best time ever achieved by a sailing boat around the world – crewed or solo. Only Orange 2, recently revamped as a cruising cat, now named Vitalia, by François Bich (son of Baron Bich), Groupama 3 and Banque Populaire V, all sailing with a full crew, did better.
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In some ways Francis is continuing the historic battle between the two ‘big ones’, because Spindrift 2 (ex-Banque Populaire V), co-skippered by Yann Guichard and Dona Bertarelli, will be on the same track round the planet. Officially she will be ready to go from 1 October, a few weeks before Idec Sport. Since returning from Guadeloupe after the Rhum, Spindriftspent the winter at Multiplast in Vannes where weight was pared off the VPLP giant wherever possible. More significant to her performance, however, is a new wing mast built by CDK, plus a new, lighter sail wardrobe from North France. ‘Like Francis with Idec, we have opted for a mast that is a little shorter than the original, with a lighter structure optimised by our team in collaboration with the engineers at GSea Design,’ explains
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