The Farr design bought from PRB last year has been sailing in the colours of Akena Vérandas since June 2009. After the last Route du Rhum, her skipper Arnaud Boissières delivered the boat back to her base in Port-Olona and announced his ultimate goal: a boat, a sailor and a team in the best of shape for the big event on 11th November 2012. Before that, the green and black monohull is going for a three-month long refit to get her ready for the 2011 season.
A bit too eager
Arnaud was disappointed by his seventh place in the last Route du Rhum as he really thought he was in with a chance in the first two-thirds of the race: “Three days into my southern option, I was as happy as a sandboy, convinced that I was going to walk away with the race and end up in my first Rhum on the podium! Looking back, I can see that I was far too eager and I didn’t manage to keep a cool head. The result is what it is, but the boat did manage to keep up the pace against Michel Desjoyeaux’s new Foncia. That is quite an achievement, as it rewards all our efforts. It’s also very promising and I hope to be able to confirm this in the future!”
Strengthening the partnership with Akena Vérandas
Just as in 2008, Arnaud will be able to continue to refer to his boat as “my veranda” when he reports in during the next Vendée Globe. The link between the Vendée based firm, Akena and the sailor have been renewed and indeed strengthened. “The boat now belongs to a company we set up together which I am in charge of. Even if I am not the majority shareholder, I have financial responsibilities in terms of managing the budget and the good news at the end of the year is that we have spent less than planned. Thanks to the boost given by our spin-off products and our conferences, our financial situation looks very positive right up until the end of 2013.”
A three-month refit programme
Once the New Year celebrations are out of the way, Arnaud and his team will set to work on carrying out improvements on the boat. “We shall be taking the keel apart and examining each welding joint, then strengthening the rudder systems and installing alarms. We’re going to have to fit an emergency hatch as laid down in the new IMOCA class rules, which will allow us to take refuge and exit from the stern, if the boat capsizes. I shall also be making a sail designed for strong winds, which will be used during the round the world race. The mast and bow will therefore have to be modified. To finish, we are going to have to work on the sliding protective cover that Vincent Riou fitted for his Vendée Globe and which has been in the boat shed ever since.”
A solid preparation programme
Akena will begin the new season on 28th April with the Douarnenez Grand Prix event, before taking part in the SNSM Trophy with a crew on board. Then the next date on the calendar will be the Fastnet Race and the double–handed Transat Jacques Vabre. “I’m giving myself some time to think about who will be my co-skipper among three or four people who are interested. Whatever happens, it will be someone friendly and who fits in with the project’s communication strategy... After all that, our team should be well and truly ready for November 2012.”
