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July 30, 2007Paprec-Virbac is going to have to change her keel changed

Launched in early February 2007 and having sailed half way around the world, Jean-Pierre Dick’s new monohull Paprec-Virbac 2 has gone into the yard in Lorient for a complete overhaul. It was during this thorough verification that the technical team noticed some cracks on the keel. Better safe than sorry, so a new keel blade is going to be built in New Zealand. Paprec-Virbac 2 will therefore not be able to take part in the Rolex Fastnet Race in August. The boat will be relaunched in early October.
Here’s what Jean-Pierre Dick had to say: "There are cracks in several places in particular at the top of the keel blade near where it is attached to the ram. The metal (steel) is not homogenous. There was fault in its manufacture, so we can’t be sure of how solid the appendage is. It’s better to resolve the problem now rather than lose the keel in the middle of the ocean! We don’t want to take any risks in the next few races and are thinking in particular of the safety of the sailors. A new keel blade has to be made in New Zealand. The Paprec Virbac sailing team has a lot of experience in carrying out thorough checks in several phases: sea trials, hald way around the world and checks in the yard in Lorient. This process works well, and the proof is clear today, even if this discovery was not really a happy one for us."

July 27, 20074700 miles for Jérémie Beyou

Having set out on 6th July from Saint-Malo to carry out his qualifying run, the skipper of Delta Dore arrived in Lorient (his home base) on Wednesday 25th July after sailing 4700 miles. 19 days alone at sea for Jérémie Beyou, enough time to sail to Newfoundland and back. During the voyage the skipper experienced almost every type of weather. A long upwind tack to begin, then a downwind return journey in winds reaching 35 knots in squalls. These conditions will have enabled Jérémie to really get to grips with his large monohull before he sets sail in mid August to race two-handed in the Fastnet with Sydney Gavinet.

July 03, 2007Launch of the new Hugo Boss

Alex Thomson’s new 60-foot Open Hugo Boss was discreetly launched in Lymington a few days ago. The champagne was sprayed over her and the project leader, Jason Carrington said a few words telling everyone that this was without doubt the most beautiful boat he had ever built. In all, the construction will have taken 26,000 man-hours and 9 months of graft. The Finot-Conq design is wider and higher in the water than the former Hugo Boss, which Alex says in comparison, was more like a submarine. Thanks to Paolo Manganelli’s engineering skill (SP Engineering), the boat is also 25% lighter than the old one, which should make quite some difference in terms of performance. Last Friday, the 180° capsize test was carried in the presence of Pascal Conq and Alex Thomson. Everything went well, even if the righting was fairly violent according to Alex, who could hardly wait to get out of there. The next stage will involve carrying out the 90°test and weighing the boat before she is revealed in all her glory to the public on 11th July.

June 21, 2007Successful righting test for Spirit of Canada

On Tuesday morning in the presence of his technical team and a crowd of spectators, Derek Hatfield’s Open 60, Spirit of Canada underwent her 180° test at the Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto. The boat was turned over and Derek Hatfield had to manoeuvre the keel from the inside to get her back upright. \"I jumped on the ceiling and then on some shelves and the boat righted herself. Everything went as planned and nothing got broken or damaged inside. It all went very smoothly.\"

June 21, 2007The new BritAir to be launched on 18th July

Following nine months of work at the Multiplast Yard, the new 60-foot Open BRITAIR is due to be launched on Wednesday 18th July at around 10 a.m. in Vannes, in the presence of Armel Le Cléac’h, Multiplast’s technical staff and a number of employees from the airline company, Brit Air. The boat will undergo measurement tests the following day in Concarneau Bay, and her mast will be stepped, in order for checks to be carried out on the technical choices made by the Multiplast yard and the Finot-Conq design team. Armel will then be heading for Cowes to take part with his brother Gael, in the legendary Fastnet Race.

June 18, 2007Will Jersey be represented in the next Vendée Globe?

Jersey’s Chief Minister, Frank Walker, has been encouraging local businessmen to support the campaign led by their fellow citizen, Phil Sharp, who following his success in a Class 40 boat in the recent Route du Rhum, wishes to take part in the 2008 Vendée Globe. Elected Channel Islands Sports Personality of the year in 2006, Sharp is currently looking for a sponsor and hopes that with the backing of the Chief Minister, he will attract the funds required to see through this campaign. Frank Walker: “With Phil’s track record and dogged determination I believe he has the potential go all the way and take this title from the French for the first time. Entering a Jersey boat in an event of this magnitude would create very positive international exposure for the Island. I hope local businesses with a strong international presence looking for global brand awareness will realise the benefits of this sponsorship opportunity and help Phil and Jersey win what is the Formula 1 of ocean racing.”