After six weeks in the yard, the red monohull skippered by Kito de Pavant has been relanched in Port Camargue, her home port. The forty days of work means that they can now get the most out of the VPLP-Verdier designed boat, which has already sailed 75,000 mile since her launch in September 2007. She has also been fitted with a brand new keel. Kito, extremely pleased to see his boat back in the bright blue waters of the Mediterranean, took some time out to look ahead to the season, as he focuses on the 2012 Vendée Globe.
So what has been going on with Groupe Bel during this refit?
- Kito de Pavant: Groupe Bel now has the very latest type of keel. While the basic concept is the same, she now matches the standards for 2011 in times of her design and build. We now have to validate this in sea trials. We also worked on the overall condition of the boat. After carrying out tests from top to bottom, we could see that the general structure of Groupe Bel had not changed, which is important after three years of sailing in some tricky seas this winter in particular in the Barcelona World Race. We managed to remove 150kg of weight from inside the boat to get her ready for the Transat Jacques Vabre which will be a double-handed sprint lasting around twenty days. Finally, we’ll be doing another bit of work on her in the yard in August to modify her coach roof. We want to improve the protection and make it more comfortable for the helmsman as we get ready for the Vendée Globe and check all that out during the Transat Jacques Vabre.
So now it’s time to train with your co-skipper Yann Régniau?
- The first job is to optimise the electronics on board and check that out in the bay. Secondly, there will be offshore trials: we planned a few days of offshore sailing with Marc Thiercelin and his DCNS 1000. The final goal is to settle into a watch pattern and to ensure we work well together. To finish, there will be ten days or so of sailing to practice manoeuvres. These are complicated boats, because of the number of adjustments that can be made. We’re going to have to work on being quick as there is a lot to gain in the transitions between weather systems and various points of sail. That has to come naturally and smoothly.
You’re already looking forward to the 2012 Vendée Globe. Do you have an idea of the commitment that is required for the solo round the world voyage?
- I’m feeling much more relaxed now! I must admit the past few months weren’t that easy and dragged me down a bit. I’m pleased to see Groupe Bel sailing again, as I’ve missed that. I really feel now that the Vendée Globe is arriving very quickly. Four years ago at this point, we were still building her and it all seemed a long way off. Today, I already feel like I’m into the swing of things for this solo round the world race. The Barcelona World Race (double-handed) strengthened my confidence in Groupe Bel in hostile seas and in my ability to cope with this demanding sort of work over the long term.
What leads you to want to go out and sail over and over again?
- The desire, confidence in my boat and above all the unwavering support of my partner Bel and everyone who works for them. Finally, there is my team, who have once again worked extremely hard on this project.
