Kito de Pavant, like Marc Guillemot before him, called upon the talent of Guillaume Verdier, who in conjunction with the Van Pétéghem Lauriot-Prévost team, designed a radically new boat. Favouring streamlined entry into the water and a lightweight approach rather than power, Groupe Bel has shown, since her launch in 2007 that she has enormous potential particularly in downwind conditions. In the hands of a skipper, who knows her like the back of his hand, this boat has the potential to compete with the boats from the latest generation.
Les skippers
Kito de Pavant / Groupe Bel > All skippers
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Nationality:
- Residence: Port-Camargue (Gard)
- Birth date: 2/23/1961 in St Pardoux la Rivière
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Vendée Globe achievements:
2nd entry in the Vendée Globe (retired in 2008-2009)
- Boat: Groupe Bel
- Web Site: http://www.beltchiztour.com
- Situation: married with 5 children
Boat
and specifications: :
- Home port: Port Camargue
- Designer: VPLP-Verdier
- Boatyard : Indiana Yachting (Italy)
- Materials : carbone Nomex Kevlar
- Launch date: 2007
- Length: 18.28 m (60’)
- Beam: 5.50 m (18’)
- Draught: 4.50 m (14’9’’)
- Displacement (weight): 7700 kg
- Number of daggerboards: 2
- Mast height: 27,5 m (88’6’’)
- Keel blade :carbon
- Upwind sail surface 320 m2
- Downwind sail surface : 695 m2
Presentation
The Southern Star
One of the most handsome weather-beaten faces in ocean racing. Kito de Pavant, with his mop of hair and three-day old stubble, his permanent smile and his CV full of adventures… there is something of a Corto Maltese in this yachtsman. Except that it has been a long time now since his Breton rivals first understood they were dealing with something more serious with a cocky southerner, who between two races in the Figaro or in a sixty-footer, takes care of his five kids on the Mediterranean coast. There is no one quite like Kito, when it comes to sailing and choosing the right options. In 2002, he also won the legendary Figaro single-handed event.
In 2005, he won the backing of a strong and loyal partner - Groupe Bel – who accompanied him in the Figaro circuit and allowed him to move on to the 60-foot IMOCA aiming for the Vendée Globe. However, his first round the world attempt came to an early end, with his mast not withstanding the angry seas of the Bay of Biscay. This was a huge disappointment for the Southern Star, who set off again to take part in the 2010-2011 Barcelona World Race. He discovered the Southern Ocean, rounded the Horn for the first time… but was forced to retire a few hours later. So he still has not made it all the way around. This is something that is missing from the list of achievements accomplished by this skilled sailor, and if he manages to cross the finishing line in Les Sables-d’Olonne, he will certainly be in line for a place on the podium.
Presse contact :
Julia HUVÉ
+33 (0)6 63 28 81 48 / jh@windreport.com
Léa LAUNAY
+33 (0)6 77 13 19 80 / ll@windreport.com
Achievements
• 8 Solitaire du Figaro events (winner in 2002)
• 5 Transat Jacques Vabre races
• 4 Transat AG2R races (winner in 2006 with Pietro d’Ali)
On the 60’ Groupe Bel
• 5th in the 2011 Transat Jacques Vabre (with Yann Regniau)
• Took part in the 2010-2011 Barcelona World Race (stopped after 70 days, damaged keel)
• Took part in the 2010 Route du Rhum (had to stop, damaged keel)
• 2nd in the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre (with François Gabart)
• 2nd in the 2009 Istanbul Europa Race (winner of stage 2)
• Solo Mediterranean record in 2009
• Took part in the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe (forced to retire)
• 6th in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2007 (with Sébastien Col)
• 2nd in the 2007 Transat B to B
