Jean-Pierre Dick’s new 60-foot monohull, Virbac-Paprec 3 has been launched in Auckland, New Zealand. As with his first two boats, the design team has once again innovated and the designs from VPLP Verdier mark a radical departure from the Nice-based skipper’s previous two boats. The gentleman skipper now has a new boat to enable him to attempt to reach the Holy Grail in the 2012 Vendée Globe. Interview with Jean-Pierre Dick:
What is the thought behind your latest boat?
Jean-Pierre Dick. “It’s a bit like being a monk! Virbac-Paprec 3 is a very light boat and is spartan. She’s the ultimate machine for extreme races, where physical and moral commitment are everything. I now have enough ocean racing experience behind me to do without the superfluous and keep the goal in mind! The only concessions to comfort will be the seats on board at the helm and to prepare the navigation, a bunk designed by bedding specialists and the two helming positions are real cocoons.”
What are the main features on Virbac-Paprec 3?
‘The twin coach roof. We have created two cocoons under a plexiglass bubble to have perfect vision around us like on a helicopter. They will allow me to keep watch and remain at the helm while keeping dry. Before there were two separate helming positions, so we have made weight savings. This is the continuation of the work carried out on Paprec-Virbac 2 with her sliding roof. The difference is that this time we have accepted to get wet when carrying out manoeuvres."
And the weight savings?
“Virbac-Paprec is lighter than Paprec-Virbac 2: around 10 to 15%. During each stage of her construction, we found the means to simplify and lighten parts while remaining intelligent. For example, the chart table is simply a computer screen on a rotating stand that can be moved from one side to the other. The boat is completely empty inside! The advantage is the ability to sail quickly with les sail and the possibility of keeping sail up for longer. The skipper manoeuvres less and can save his energy. As for the hydrodynamics, we came up with 70 hull shapes with the designers. We kept four of them and tried them out in tank tests. Finally, they carried out a virtual round the world voyage based on routing from a weather expert so we could make our final decision. There are very straight lines and the shape is cut with a billhook. As for the aerodynamics, we have a classic mast with two layers of spreaders, but with just one backstay cable instead of three. This is an innovation to make weight savings and to expose a smaller surface to the wind. Apart from that, we have concentrated on safety by learning from previous unfortunate incidents. We have come up with an emergency hatch in the middle of the hull so we don’t have to come out at the stern. This hatch is ready to be cut in the carbon and I just have to saw, if I find myself upside down. We strengthened the watertight bulkheads to avoid the boat filling with water at all costs.”
What is your programme now for Virbac-Paprec 3?
“One of the advantages of building her in New Zealand is that we can sail her home to France by sea. This will allow us to fine tune the new 60-foot IMOCA boat in real sailing conditions as we make our way around the planet. That is quite demanding, as it takes two months, but at the same time enriching for the team and myself. As soon as I reach Lorient in early August, the boat will have covered more than 12,000 miles (22,224 km), or in other words the equivalent of 3 transatlantic races. This is therefore an excellent test platform before the busy schedule for the end of the year with the Route du Rhum and the Barcelona World Race, where I’ll be defending my title!”
