Vendée Globe

The new Pindar Open 60 was launched in Auckland NZ, this week. With Mike Sanderson at the helm and Juan Kouyoumdjian as her deisgner, some people have made the comparison with the most recent Volvo 70s, which are among the world’s fastest monohulls. Let’s take a look at the new Imoca class boat...

60 metres long with a draught of 4.5 metres and more than six metres wide, Pindar is fitted with a mast that can be moved sideways and thanks to her outriggers leaned forward or back, which means she is capable of a good performance in all points of sail. With a larger sail area than her predecessors, Pindar also boasts a keel, which is much more powerful than those on the previous two boats. As for the hull, we can note a deep chine at the back, which offers more power and greater stability when the boat is heeled over. The construction managed by Tom Faire and carried out at Cookson’s for eight months represented 25,000 man-hours. The sails and rig are also from New Zealand (North Sails NZ and Southern Spars respectively). Mike Sanderson, who worked as a consultant on the project, first from his home and then during the winter in New Zealand, was there for her first sail. His reactions: “The new Pindar Open 60 comprises many new technical developments which make this boat one of a new breed in the world of Open 60s. Combining lessons learnt from other boats and classes, in terms of sails, rigging, hull and keel design, we have created what I believe will be an absolute weapon. She’s very different to Pindar’s previous two Open 60’s, with an interesting transom design and a very different rig set up. The first few days of testing have gone really well, and I look forward to Pindar’s arrival in the UK when the team can tune her up for racing.” He shares this impatience with Juan Kouyoumdjian, “It has been exciting developing the new Pindar and I’m looking forward to seeing her out racing”
Pindar will be shipped to the UK later this week with the intention of competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, before the build up to the Transat Jacques Vabre this November. An official naming ceremony and UK launch will take place in the UK this summer.

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