News Around the World
Patience… when Jean-Pierre Kelbert, racing his own JPK 1080 Leon (above), was beaten into 2nd place in the solo category by Alex Ozon’s smaller Bepox 990 in the Transquadra transatlantic race, for skippers aged 40 or over, he immediately began work on a new 10m design of his own (issue 454). Easing the pain somewhat was the fact that JPK designs took five of the top 10 places overall…
FRANCE (New) boats galore Earlier this winter Antoine Mermod, president of the Imoca 60 class, suggested that around six new boats will be built for the next Vendée Globe in 2020. A few months later three new boats have been announced, for Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and more recently for two Figaro experts: Sébastien Simon and Charles Dalin. Before the end of the month we should know the skipper of a fourth new boat, designed by Samuel Manuard (especially known for his successful Minis and Class40s), as well as the name of the designer of the new Hugo Boss… not forgetting a sixth new boat we know is on the way to be announced a bit later. That means Mermod’s target of six new boats has already been
reached. Sorry, six new foilers! Knowing that all those boats, or near to all, are one-offs and that the construction of an Imoca takes at least 10 months we imagine that it is unlikely that other new designs will appear – though it is possible another boat could be built with existing tooling. Suffice to say that Imoca is nicely surfing her wave thanks to the Vendée Globe! Let’s have a look at what is happening while the first new boat,
Charal, is being completed by CDK, to be launched in time for the Route du Rhum in November. In mid-February skipper Sébastien Simon, one of the recent young
heroes of the Figaro circuit, told us that Juan Kouyoumdjian has been chosen to design his new Imoca 60 Arkéa-Paprec and that he will be supported by Vincent Riou in the role of technical manager. With committed sponsors, a determined and talented skipper and a technical adviser who won the 2004-05 Vendée Globe, there are all the ingredients for Juan and his team to be part of an ambitious new adventure where the primary objective is to start in front and stay there – in every sense. ‘I like being part of extraordinary projects and this has all the
right elements. When we met Sébastien and Vincent I felt a rare synergy.’ Such was the enthusiasm with which Juan Kouyoumdjian accepted the opportunity to develop this project; but beyond the
18 SEAHORSE
human connection, the chance to conceive a completely new one-off Imoca appeals a lot to the Franco-Argentine designer. Monohulls designed to compete in the Vendée Globe are among
the last R&D platforms where contemporary architects can still fully express their potential, pushing the limits of their skill, experience, intuition and research. ‘In the context of cutting-edge monohull sailing, the Vendée Globe is for the moment the only arena with any room for innovation. To work on the development of an Open 60 project is intellectually very stimulating,’ said Juan K, who is always happy to be referred to as a ‘radical’. ‘My past experience in the Vendée was interesting. The first
Imoca I came up with, Pindar, was definitely not designed for the solo round-the-world race. Her owner did not want to sail single- handed or even double-handed, so the boat was obviously made more powerful because it had been created for a full crew. ‘However, that boat still finished the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe
in fifth (in the hands of British sailor Brian Thompson). The second Imoca I worked on, Cheminées Poujoulat, was different; Bernard Stamm, the skipper, gave us a specification that was very personal to him. She did well in the races she competed in and Bernard was one of the three frontrunners in the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe before encountering electrical problems. ‘This new project with Sébastien Simon and his technical director,
Vincent Riou, is going to allow me to turn the page with a top-class team.’ Though it is too soon to know what the new boat will look like, Juan said: ‘I am visualising the boat but it’s too early to discuss. We still need to immerse ourselves for a few months before we can confirm that what we envisage is correct! What I am sure of is that the updated Imoca rule will create boats with some unique shapes.’ The presence of Vincent Riou is no surprise at all. Sébastien
explained: ‘I met Vincent for the first time when I was at Pôle Finistère Course au Large (the academy for Figaro champions). His shed was just next to the Classe Figaro pontoon and even on our initial chat it rapidly became clear we shared many passions in terms of naval design and construction. I have learnt a lot from him.’
FRANCOIS VAN MALLEGHEM
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