While the majority of the skippers have not yet taken a decision concerning whether or not they will take part in the next Vendée Globe in 4 years time, we can be certain for now in early April that there are two boats that will certainly be attempting the adventure of the seventh Vendée Globe: Safran announced during the last race that they were prolonging Marc Guillemot's contract for four years, probably using the same boat. Marc will decide in 2010 if he will skipper the boat for another attempt. Jean-Pierre Dick has already taken that decision: he will be at the helm of the third Paprec-Virbac, a brand new boat, hoping to be there at the front of the fleet. The number 2 aboard which Jean-Pierre took part in the most recent edition has already been sold to the Spanish team within the Barcelona Sailing Federation.

Lauch a year from now

After eight years of work with the Bruce Farr team, Paprec Virbac 3 will this time be designed by the French designers Vincent Lauriot Prévost from the VPLP team and Guillaume Verdier, who were behind Kito de Pavant and Marc Guillemot's boats, Groupe Bel and Safran. «We feel happy with their approach,» said Jean-Pierre Dick, «they understand the problem: solo sailing with power. We can go still further in that direction. I believe sailing is something that requires a lot of physical effort, but you also need comfort and ease of handling inside and outside. We have the same philosophy.»
The construction is due to start in early July in New Zealand, with the launch planned a year or so from now in early May 2010. At the end of next year, Jean-Pierre is due to take part in the Route du Rhum and/or the Barcelona Race, with the other major dates on the calendar being the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2011 and of course, the seventh Vendée Globe in 2012