Spindrift Racing buy Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire V

Spindrift 2 looking slick after her refit and new paint. Photo's by Chris Schmid.

 

It's ok, I guess. I liked BPV's "look" much more.....
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From frontpage of SA:

The design was Bertarelli’s domain and she took special care to design Spindrift 2, as she had done previously for Ladycat and Spindrift. “This was the work of the team with conversations between Yann, Christophe Schmid, our graphic artist and Jean-Baptiste Epron. The implementation of the design was carried out largely by Léo Lucet, Antoine Carraz and our technical team, who have been actively involved so the result met with my expectations. It was about finding a harmony between three boats in the team, so that at first glance one can recognise their stable. I also wanted a clean design, that was both elegant and unconventional for such a huge boat. The colours black, white and gold were already decided. These colours define us well ; black: competitiveness, determination, commitment, strength, surpassing yourself; white: purity, wisdom, discipline, team spirit, sharing ; and gold: the elegance, femininity, passion, the exceptional, originality, great feats, the colour of victory…”

 

Spindrift have released a press release on the programme they are planning to undertake with Spindrift 2. The most intriguing part in my view is they are looking at whether the boat can be modified to be singlehanded to compete in the 2014 Route du Rhum. That would be quite an achievement but maybe if they went for a smaller rig as Cammas did on Groupama3 it might be possible.

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/07/spindrift-2-unveiled/

2013 program :

Rolex Fastnet
Spindrift 2 will participate in the Rolex Fastnet race on August 11. Under the colours of its former owner (Banque Populaire V), the boat is the record holder of the event, with a time of in 1 day 8 hours and 48 minutes, at an average speed of 18.1 knots.

The Discovery Route. Cadiz (Spain) – San Salvador (Bahamas)
Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard will then consider an attempt on the Discovery Route in the autumn. The record time belongs to the maxi trimaran Groupama 3 (Franck Cammas) and was established in May 2007 in 7 days 10 hours 58 minutes and 53 seconds.

Transatlantic return
A transatlantic return to Europe is the plan for this winter, with, if the opportunity arises, an attempt for the 24-hour distance record (90 miles, 37.8 knots average) set by the same boat – then Banque Populaire V.

The Channel Record between Cowes (England) and Dinard (France)
A record held by Maiden 2 (Brian Thompson) since 2000 in 5 hours 23 minutes and 38 seconds, at an average speed of 25.60 knots.

2014 program :
Route du Rhum – from Saint Malo in November 2014
or
North Atlantic Record : New York – Lizard
Held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Pascal Bidegorry) since August 2, 2009: 3 days 15 hours and 25 minutes and 48 seconds, at an average of 33.41 knots.

The Round Britain
Record held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Pascal Bidegorry) since July 2011 : 3 days 3 hours 49 minutes and 14 seconds, at an average speed of 23.3 knots.

Mediterranean record: Marseille (France) – Carthage (Tunisia)
Held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Pascal Bidegorry) since May 16, 2010 with a time of 14 hours, 20 minutes and 34 seconds.

24-hour Record – world record for distance sailed in 24hrs
Held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Pascal Bidegorry) since August 1, 2009: 908.2 miles, at an average speed of 37.8 knots, with a top speed of 47.16 knots.

2015-2016 program :
Retry the following records if they have not been broken:

Record of the North Atlantic: New York – Lizard
Held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Pascal Bidegorry) since August 2, 2009: 3 days 15 hours and 25 minutes and 48 seconds, at an average speed of 33.41 knots.

Mediterranean record: Marseille (France) – Carthage (Tunisia)
Held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Pascal Bidegorry) since May 16, 2010 with a time of 14 hours, 20 minutes and 34 seconds.

24-hour Record – world record for distance sailed in 24hrs
Held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Pascal Bidegorry) since August 1, 2009: 908.2 miles, at an average speed of 37.8 knots, with a top speed of 47.16 knots.

Jules Verne Trophy. Around the world via the three capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn.
Held by the Maxi Banque Populaire V (Loick Peyron) since January 6, 2012: 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes and 53 seconds, at an average speed of 19.75 knots.

Spindrift 2 crew for the Rolex Fastnet :
Dona Bertarelli – Skipper
Yann Guichard – Skipper
Xavier Revil
Jacques Guichard
Erwan Tabarly
Antoine Carraz
Nicolas Texier
Jean Baptiste le Vaillant
Thierry Douillard
Sébastien Marsset
Erwan Israel

Maxi Spindrift 2 :
The largest offshore racing maxi trimaran ever built
Lenght overall 40 m
Beam overall 23 m
Air draft 47 m
Hull draft 5,80 m
80 tons of mast foot pressure
Holder of 9 world records, including the around the world « Trophee Jules Verne » in 45 days 13 hours and 42 minutes

 

Spindrift 2 has been relaunched after the refit. In the press release it mentions that the original rig will be refitted. There was mention in a previous press release that a new and smaller rig was on the cards but maybe they are saving that for the Route du Rhum and singlehanding.

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/07/maxi-spindrift-2-launched-this-afternoon/

 

It is slightly odd how the Spindrift team, which already had Audemars Piguet colors (gold and 'royal oak' mucky brown) on their D35, have felt it necessary to repeat that color scheme on the Maxi. The watchmaker could never be more than the merest token sponsor for this project, personally I think the colors are drab and more resemble a camouflage scheme than a photogenic end result.

In the same way that the team lacks a major commercial sponsor, they lack a good logo. The word Spindrift doesn't do anything for me, it is an extremely unused word in the english language which connotes something temporary, fleeting, ephemeral, without much substance. There's something tone-deaf to the english about the choice of that team name. It conveys as much dynamism as would Haze, Mist, or Brume; Perhaps Spindrift has a more substantive sound in French or German, which has been lost in translation, but I doubt it... And the name Spindrift 2 just seems a notch worse, doesn't it? lol.

Dona Bertarelli didn't look all that enthusiastic in those video lineups of the crew outside the hangar, I can't say I blame her. This is Big Boat Madness taken to the uttermost. A boat so big that it is forever a French project actually, in some way compensating for the Battle of the Nile, Trafalgar, and the scuttling of their fleet at Toulon. Doesn't look as if there are many Swiss on board either, mostly Frenchies.

Somehow the Swiss identity should have been more pronounced here, in launching this unusual maritime effort.

 

I'm interested in seeing how the boat goes on the record routes they have chosen to contest and if they painted it pink with purple polka dots I'd still like the boat. The prospect of the boat being sailed in the Route du Rhum singlehanded I find especially intriguing. It would certainly have Banque Populaire second guessing their decision to sell.

Is it big boat madness? Yes, but if you must have a big boat having the big fastest sailing boat in the world is not a bad way to go. I agree about the rather insipid choice of name for the boat, they surely could have done better on that front.

Many note the high cost of ownership but it's probably no more expensive to own and maintain than a high end sailing superyacht and would show a clean set of heels to any of them.

 

Why did they sell it?

Are they planning on a faster replacement?

 

They sold Banque Populaire V and bought the old Groupama3 which had already been modified for single handing. If Spindrift Racing can mod BP5 (now Spindrift 2) to be sailed successfully singlehanded it should show Groupama3 (now Banque Populaire VII) it's transoms.

I think the "Banque" sold BP5 because they were looking at a different programme more focused solo competition not crewed records and it seemed to be a way to do it on a budget. It would be amusing imo if it back fired on them and Spindrift2 won the 2014 Route du Rhum overall in the Ultime class.

I'd not be surprised if the Banque built a bigger boat if Spindrift 2 reset the Jules Verne record that is afterall the big cheese but it's unlikely they would unless the record is improved. The Hydroptere Maxi might be a way to get the record back or you could go the tested route and build a bigger foil assist trimaran like Banque Populaire. VPLP have mentioned that they could scale the concept to be even larger with more righting moment and higher average speed potential.

 

Thanks Corley.

How old is Groupama now?

 

Groupama3 was built in 2006 and reset the Jules Verne Record in 2010 after a couple of failed attempts with a time of 48 days, 7 hours 44 minutes and 52 seconds improving the record set by the Maxi Catamaran Orange II by about 2 days. This stood till 2012 when BPV sliced about 3 days off Groupama3's record. Loick Peyron's motto for the Jules Verne was "fast but not furious" if BPV was sailed closer to the limit in favourable conditions it should be able to improve significantly on the existing Jules Verne trophy record.

 

Here's a video interview with Dona Bertarelli from last week, she says they'll decide by the end of the year if they can modify Spindrift 2 for the solo Route du Rhum. When asked why she hasn't raced on the MOD70, she says she considers it is a much more extreme boat to sail offshore, than on the maxi. It is her personal challenge to learn to helm the maxi, in gradually more difficult conditions, to the point where she merits her spot in the crew by sailing skill alone. When asked about her attachment to Brittany, she says 'My attachment to Brittany is obviously through Yann and the whole Guichard family..."

I have no idea if it is true or not, but this last remark, and several of the photos of them recently, suggest to me that Dona and Yann are something different than the usual sponsor/skipper configuration.






...

So the lady prefers the maxi to the MOD70, and perhaps that is a new, unexpected, element complicating efforts to organize more racing for the MOD70's. At the moment Gavignet/Oman is the only MOD70 entered for the Rolex Fastnet Race.

 

Some photos by John Cadwallader of Spindrift2 and some closeups of some of the stays and float details.

 

It seems that the first training session went well. I'm kind of surprised that Pascal Bidegorry is not on the crew given his intimate knowledge of the project.

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/07/francais-premieres-navigations-a-bord-de-spindrift-2/

 

Spindrift 2 has been hauled out and is to undergo maintenance, review and optimization over winter at CDK boatyard where she was constructed. A new programme of activities for 2014 yet to be announced.

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/12/spindrift-2-takes-up-winter-quarters/

a gallery with more photos of the haulout by Eloi Stichelbaut on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.671869459501565.1073741859.347512061937308&type=1