Last week, two IMOCA 60 boats were relaunched and can now undergo their preparation for the double-handed transatlantic race. Banque Populaire was put back in the water in Lorient while Cheminées Poujoulat was lowered back in the water in Brest. The teams are now entering a busy period over the next month or so as they get ready for the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre in Le Havre on 30th October.
Armel Le Cléac’h’s Banque Populaire monohull suffered damage during a training session earlier this summer, when a crack appeared in the hull. After a very quick repair job over the past month, the monohull was returned to her base in the Keroman harbour in Lorient last Wednesday. Armel le Cléac’h and his co-skipper Christopher Pratt are now going to have to make up for lost time carrying out training sessions off Lorient, following courses at the Port la Forêt centre and taking part in the Atlantic Grand Prix on the weekend of 23rd-24th September.
Cheminées Poujoulat back in the water in Brest
After being taken out of the water on 23rd August, Bernard Stamm’s yellow and black monohull was relaunched last Friday. Her mast was stepped after she was lowered into the water and she was returned to her pontoon in the Château Marina in Brest where Bernard’s team will continue to work on her. Bernard Stamm: "We have tried to make her more comfortable and modified a few things, such as the sheet attachment and the water intake on the engine, which didn’t work right when the boat was heeled over. We still have a few details to sort out before we get back out there sailing. It’s all falling into place slowly but surely.”
