Category Circumnavigation

22
Jul 19

Excess 15 CNB First Navigation

Bordeaux, Gironde, France 44º52’39″N 0º32'14″W

Excess15CNBBlog1Photo assignment for CNB Yacht Builders – Excess Catamarans.Come into the EXCESS world and explore perfectly designed catamarans inspired by racing for cruising pleasure.

12
Oct 18

Yoann Richomme and the Black Mamba

Lorient, Morbihan, Brittany, France 47º32’42″N 03º18'48″W

The Lift 40 ( Class 40 ) Black Mamba for the skipper Yoann Richomme training for the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe 2018.Last opportunities for Yoann Richomme to test single-handed set-up in race mode his Lift 40 ( Class 40 ) “Black Mamba” – “Veedol” ahead of November’s solo transatlantic Route du Rhum race from St Malo to Guadeloupe.
The Lift 40 was built at Gepeto Composite and designed by Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group, Lorient Keroman Submarine Base, Brittany, France.

Photo assignment for Yoann Richomme.

http://www.yoannrichomme.fr
Onboard The Lift 40 ( Class 40 ) Black Mamba-Veedol with the skipper Yoann Richomme training for the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe 2018.

17
Jul 18

Francis Joyon IDEC Sport

La Trinité-sur-Mer, Morbihan, Brittany, France 47º26’54″N 02º59'28″W

Onboard the trimaran IDEC SPORT skippered by Francis Joyon, preparing to take part in "La Route du Rhum", La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France.Onboard the trimaran IDEC SPORT skippered by Francis Joyon, preparing to take part in “La Route du Rhum” destination Guadeloupe.

FRANCIS JOYON LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD ROUTE DU RHUM

It was a busy, fruitful spring for Francis Joyon and his team, who are preparing for the big event of the year, the Route du Rhum, destination Guadeloupe, the fortieth edition of which starts from St. Malo on 4th November. The skipper of IDEC SPORT told us he has “filled his notebook with pages and pages of observations,” about the thousands of little improvements that can be made to his boat, which already holds the Jules Verne Trophy, but which will help make her ideally prepared for solo sailing.

Francis will be doing a lot of sailing this summer with daily trips, aimed at finding the right settings and fully understanding the new foils, in particular in stronger winds than those they encountered in the Mediterranean. It will then be time for more advanced solo sailing. Since his successful, yet brief Atlantic crossing record in July 2017, Francis Joyon has felt perfectly at ease aboard his impressive boat. In Nice he was given the go ahead by the French Sailing Federation to use the famous bicycle out on the deck, which works the winches using leg power.

Comfort and ease

While the main part of the work that is being done to prepare the boat for the Route du Rhum involves getting to grips with the new foils added last winter to the IDEC SPORT boat, which already performed exceptionally well and safely, there is now a long list of minor improvements that Francis Joyon would like to see to offer more comfort and ease when sailing his boat single-handedly. “Over the past few weeks we learnt a lot about how to make the most of the foils,” explained Francis Joyon, “understanding the angle to apply depending on wind conditions. We still need to see what happens in stronger winds. There are a lot of tiny details to work on with the crew during the summer before I set off alone.”
Pleased with the enhanced performance of the boat that has come with the new shape of foil and the T-shaped rudders, Francis is looking ahead to getting the boat in solo mode for the Route du Rhum and preparing her for stronger winds. “I need to sail in winds of twenty knots or more to identify the angles and settings for those conditions. The extra work on the autopilots will be done alongside these studies.”

Simple and smooth

Joyon and his team are also aiming to make the manoeuvres as simple as possible. “All of the lines come back to the cockpit and the manoeuvres have to be smooth,” he added. “I’m trying to reduce the friction and the risk of wear and tear by using small blocks and thinner lines. Everything that makes the sailor’s job easier is a help when sailing solo. During my solo record attempt last year, the boat seemed to be particularly difficult to work alone. But after that first solo transatlantic crossing on her, I was starting to get to grips with her and today, manoeuvres seem to go much more smoothly. We have done a lot of work on the headsail furling systems and there too, there have been huge gains in time and performance.”

The bicycle gets the go ahead

Among the most visible modifications apart from the aforementioned foils, IDEC SPORT will be getting a new gennaker. “Our set of sails has already clocked up more than 60,000 miles, if you add together the two Jules Verne Trophy attempts and the two transatlantic crossings. It’s time for a new gennaker,” stressed Francis. The famous bicycle installed by Franck Cammas in 2007 when the VPLP designed boat was in the colours of Groupama, is back. Just like Cammas before him and Loïck Peyron in their winning Route du Rhum races, Joyon, who enjoys cycling, will also be using leg power to trim the headsails and mainsail when taking in a reef. “The bicycle doesn’t make it faster to set a gennaker, as this still takes a quarter of an hour. It does however offer greater comfort and makes it easier. I like cycling and I’m pleased that the French Sailing Federation has approved this change.”

Francis Joyon is quietly preparing for his seventh Route du Rhum in Southern Brittany. He has never won this sailing classic, but did finish second in 2010. Facing ever stronger competition with more advanced machines, the holder of the Jules Verne Trophy surprises everyone by remaining relaxed and enthusiastic. “I’ll be doing my utmost to have a great race between St. Malo and Pointe à Pitre. For my seventh attempt, it would be nice to succeed for once…”

https://www.idecsport-sailing.com/
Onboard the trimaran IDEC SPORT skippered by Francis Joyon, preparing to take part in "La Route du Rhum", La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France.

08
May 18

Gepeto Composite – Class 40

Lorient, Morbihan, Brittany, France 47º43’44″N 03º22'03″W

Preparation of the Lift 40 ( Class 40 ) for the skipper Yoann Richomme before the Route du Rhum 2018 at Gepeto Composite.<br />
Gepeto Composites is based in Lorient Keroman Submarine Base, Brittany, France.Construction is now well underway at Gepeto Composite for the Lift 40 ( Class 40 ) designed by naval architect Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group for the skipper Yoann Richomme and due for launch in June. The ultimate goal for the boat is the 2018 Route du Rhum, starting on the 4 of November.

https://gepetocomposite.com/
Preparation of the Lift 40 ( Class 40 ) for the skipper Yoann Richomme before the Route du Rhum 2018 at Gepeto Composite.<br />
Gepeto Composites is based in Lorient Keroman Submarine Base, Brittany, France.

02
May 17

Maxi Trimaran Sodebo Ultim

Lorient, Morbihan, Brittany, France 47º43’42″N 03º22'16″W

Relaunched of the 31m maxi trimaran Sodebo Ultim’, skipper Thomas Coville (FRA)  who has successfully broken the solo round the world record, completing the 28400 nm route in 49 days 3 hours 7 minutes and 38 seconds.Relaunched of the 31m maxi trimaran Sodebo Ultim.

08
Mar 17

MACIF Trimaran re launched

Lorient, Morbihan, Brittany, France 47º43’40″N 03º22'09″W

French sailor François Gabart and his 100ft trimaran MACIF designed by the VPLP design team, this 30-metre wide, 21 metre wide boat has been designed for solo sailing. A light boat (14.5 tonnes) with very fine hulls.The MACIF trimaran returned to sea on Wednesday 8 March, after a 4-month winter refit. In addition to checking all the parts of the boat, it mainly involved improving ergonomics. The most visible area of work carried out by the technical team focused on completely protecting the cockpit.

Being able to sail safely in dry surroundings is essential for the first single-handed round the world, which Francois Gabart is preparing to sail towards the end of the year. “Last year, we partially closed-off the cockpit. We have taken this idea further this year, with a porthole and composite bulkhead system that provides the helmsman with better. The cockpit is now completely closed. I want to be able to pilot the boat without worrying about my own safety”, explains Francois, who is satisfied with the result. This new feature must now be tested at sea!

Although the single-handed round the world record attempt is the main goal this season, Francois Gabart and Macif are also preparing for The Bridge. This race with crew will see four maxi-trimarans (Actual, Idec Sport, MACIF and Sodebo) race alongside the giant Queen Mary 2 liner, between St. Nazaire and New York (start 25 June). “The line-up will be splendid. We will be racing against Idec, which has just sailed round the world in 41 days with crew, and Sodebo, which did it in 49 days single-handed – two boats that have left their hallmark on the history of sailing”, says Francois gleefully.

For the MACIF skipper this Transat will be a new chance to further his knowledge of his 30 metre trimaran. “Right from the start, with Macif, I’ve had the following approach: each racing event serves as preparation for the next. The Bridge will prepare our round the world, which in turn will prepare the Route du Rhum 2018. Our dynamic is always to learn more and perform through progress. We do this to balance out the short-term and the long-term.”

www.macifcourseaularge.com

19
Jan 17

Vendée Globe 2016 – 2017 Arrival

Les Sables d'Olonne, Vendée, France 46º29’30″N 1º47’40″W

Armel Le Cléac'h crossed the Vendée Globe finish line today, setting a new Vendee Globe and solo round-the-world record of 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 secondsArmel Le Cléac’h crossed the Vendée Globe finish line, setting a new Vendee Globe and solo round-the-world record of 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds and Alex Thomson crossed the finish line in 74 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds, Alex Thomson has become the fastest British sailor on that route.
Alex crossed the Vendée Globe finish line this morning in 74 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds

26
Dec 16

Thomas Coville / Sodebo solo round the world record

Brest, Brittany, France 48º22’47″N 4º29’08″W

Thomas Coville (FRA) and his 31m maxi trimaran Sodebo Ultim’ has successfully broken the solo round the world record Thomas Coville (FRA) and his 31m maxi trimaran Sodebo Ultim’ arrival in Brest.
Thomas Coville has successfully broken the solo round the world record, completing the 28400 nm route in 49 days 3 hours 7 minutes and 38 seconds.
Thomas Coville (FRA) and his 31m maxi trimaran Sodebo Ultim’ has successfully broken the solo round the world record

16
Dec 16

François Gabart “Rêver Large”

Global

Tour_monde_gabart

02
Aug 16

The Ultime Class trimaran Sodebo in Rio

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 23º03’54″S 43º14'08″W

The Ultime Class 100' VPLP designed trimaran Sodebo and the Sailing Team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photo assignment for Sodebo.