Posts tagged Route Du Rhum

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.

17
Dec 17

Onboard the Maxi Trimaran MACIF

Atlantic Ocean, 46º52’28″N 05º40'54″W

24 hours with French sailor François Gabart onboard  his 100ft trimaran MACIFdesigned 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.
Francois Gabart breaks Solo Round the World Record.
Departure Sat Nov 4, 2017
Arrival Sun Dec 17, 2017

Solo Round the World Tour 42D 16h 40min 35s
Max Speed 47 knots
Average Speed 27,2 Knots
Max Average in 24hs 35,2 Knots
Max dist traveled 24hs 851 NM
Actual dist traveled 27859,7 NM

Reference Time Records:

Max advance vs Coville’s Record 2799,8 NM
Ouessant / Good Hope 11D 20h 10min
Ouessant / Cape Agulhas 11D 22h 20min
Ouessant / Cape Leeuwin 19D 14h 10min
Ouessant / Cape Horn 29D 03h 15min
Ouessant / Equator turn around 36D 01h 30min
Ocean Pacific Crossing 7D 15h 15min
Cape Horn / Equator 6D 22h 15min
Equator/Equator 30D 4h 45min

Photo assignment for GQ Magazine.

http://www.gqmagazine.fr/tudor/danslapeaude/francoisgabart24 hours with French sailor François Gabart onboard  his 100ft trimaran MACIFdesigned 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.

22
Aug 17

Charlie Capelle – Acapella

La Trinité-sur-Mer, Morbihan, Brittany, France 47º26’50″N 03º11'52″W

Acapella (the sister ship of Mike Birch famous Olympus) built by Walter Green in 1980 and skippered by Charlie Capelle, preparing to take part in  "La Route du Rhum" 2018, La Trinite-sur-Mer, Brittany, France.Acapella, the sister ship of Mike Birch famous Olympus, built by Walter Green in 1980 and skippered by Charlie Capelle, preparing to take part in “La Route du Rhum” 2018.

http://www.acapellaocean.com/

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

02
Nov 14

Start of the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe 2014

Saint Malo, Brittany, France 48º42’04″N 2º18’00″W

Route Du Rhum 2014.

91 skippers started the tenth edition of La Route du Rhum crossing the line to begin the 3542 Nms solo Transatlantic passage from Saint-Malo to Pointe-a- Pitre in Guadeloupe.

Start of the Route Du Rhum 2014.

 

10
Sep 14

LOICK PEYRON & THE MAXI TRIMARAN SOLO BANQUE POPULAIRE VII

Lorient, Morbihan, Brittany, France 47º40’35″N 03º23'40″W

Loick Peyron onboard the Maxi Trimaran Solo Banque Populaire VII in preparation for "La Route du Rhum".

Blue Is The New Yellow

Furthering his reputation as Mr. Multihull, Loick Peyron made a drastic change in plans for the 2014 Route du Rhum last week, switching gears from driving his Rhum Class ‘p’ti yellow’ 30′ Walter Greene designed wood trimaran with only a sextant, to helming the massive Ultime Class ‘big blue’ 100′ Banque Populaire VII maxi-trimaran, a VPLP carbon fiber designed monster outfitted with the latest technology. A difficult decision for sure, but trading up from the yellow Happy project to the impressive blue BP7 is a clear choice from a competitive racer’s perspective with Loick’s pedigree. Always looking to challenge his abilities and push it to the limits, winning the Route du Rhum has been on his bucket list for many years. So here we have the lethal combination of the best boat and the best man for the job. For the 2014 edition, Banque Populaire and Loick Peyron are a force to be reckoned with.

Words: Fred Eagle

Photo assignment for Banque Populaire.

Loick Peyron onboard the Maxi Trimaran Solo Banque Populaire VII in preparation for "La Route du Rhum".

 

01
Aug 14

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24
Jul 14

“HAPPY” with loick Peyron

La Trinité-sur-Mer / Le Pouliguen, Brittany, France 47º16’50″N 02º36'46″W

‘Happy’ (the sister ship of Mike Birch’s famous Olympus) skippered by Loick Peyron preparing to take part in this 10th transatlantic race "La Route du Rhum", La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France.

Loick Peyron has launched his Walter Greene trimaran and headed out for his first sail preparing to take part in “La Route du Rhum”. ‘Happy’ is the sister ship of Mike Birch’s famous Olympus.

“First training session on “HAPPY”, nothing but happiness. Small is beautiful !
So far so good. and very impatient to start my 49th crossing of the Atlantic.”
Look at that : this is Happy in Christophe’s eyes !! ”

Loick vient de mettre a l’eau son plan Walter Greene “Happy”; sister-ship du célèbre trimaran de Mike Birch Olympus. Il s’est élancé pour sa première sortie en mer dans la cadre de sa préparation à “La Route du Rhum”.

“Première séance d’entraînement sur “HAPPY”, rien que du bonheur!
Pas besoin d’être grand pour être beau. Jusqu’ici tout va bien, je suis impatient de débuter ma 49eme traversée de l’Atlantique.
C’est simple comme ça le bonheur dans les yeux de Christophe Launay !!.”

Loick Peyron

Photo assignment for Loick Peyron.

‘Happy’ (the sister ship of Mike Birch’s famous Olympus) skippered by Loick Peyron preparing to take part in this 10th transatlantic race "La Route du Rhum", La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France.