Vendée Globe

The two 60-foot sisterships, Paprec-Virbac 2 and Gitana Eighty, designed by the Farr team and built in New Zealand are about to become the property of the Spanish FNOB, the Barcelona Ocean Racing Foundation, (Fundació per la Navegació Oceànica de Barcelona). The two boats, which were sailed in the single-handed round the world race by Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron respectively are currently being worked on in Brittany, one in Lorient and the other in La Trinité sur Mer.

Gitana Eighty is due to head off to Barcelona in June to take part in a few races this summer in the Mediterranean, beginning with the Rolex Giraglia. Meanwhile, Paprec-Virbac 2 will be staying in Breton waters until early August, before she makes her way to the Mediterranean, which will also be the home of Groupe Bel, Kito de Pavant's 60-foot boat. All three will be taking part in a new Imoca event for crews, which will start in the Mediterranean in September and finish in Brest.

In the Transat Jacques Vabre, which is set to be raced immediately afterwards, the former Gitana decorated in the colours of the brewery firm, Estrella Dam will be crewed by Guillermo Altadill and Paci Rivero, two sailors, who raced in the Barcelona World Race 2007/2008. Alex Pella, known for Mini racing and Pepe Ribes Jose will be at the helm of the former Paprec-Virbac. José Benavides, manager of the team linked to the FNOB, who also owns Ellen MacArthur's former Kingfisher, explained that the main goal behind their involvement is to be at the start of the double-handed Barcelona World Race in 2010. He hopes too that these two boats will be able to take part in the next Vendée Globe in 2012. The reason behind the choice made by Jose Benavides is that the two boats are 95% the same and were built in the same yard. They therefore represent an ideal platform for learning and improving their performance. Both boats being sold to the Spaniards were built thanks to Absolute Dreamer, the team led by Jean-Pierre Dick and Luc Talbourdet. The latter told us that this sale was arranged at the start of the Vendée Globe with the final details being concluded after the race.

 

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