Route du Rhum 2014

^^^

Singlehandedly capsizing in Prince de Bretagne looks much more comfortable than doublehandedly capsizing in Lalou's cramped boat.


Here's a little more about Lalou's plans: in addition to a 15sq/m downwind parakite (which they'd tested on Thiercelin's Imoca 60 three years ago), Parlier also has two steerable kites of his own design which can allow sailing to windward. I hope we'll see some photos of that soon.

There's a twitter account they are using here.

And here's a short thread from 2008 about Parlier and kites.

...

To bring his new mast down from France to Las Palmas, Lalou is chartering Bob Escoffier's 25m Étoile Magique. He says that will cost 15.000 euros and is cheaper than the 25,000 euros they would spend if they trucked it four days (2 days on ferry). But it is strange there wasn't a cheaper shipping alternative.

 

^^I can see why it would be expensive to transport a mast. I was surprised when I looked at shipping in a boat by container how expensive mast transport was they go as deck cargo which commands a huge premium over container transport.

Spindrift 2 has been relaunched:

A gallery of photos by Eloi Stichelbaut of the launch:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.729662503722260.1073741868.347512061937308&type=1

the Team press release:

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2014/04/the-maxi-trimaran-spindrift-2-launches-in-lorient/

 

^^^

This confused me, Corley. First they put the boat in the water today, but they are going to launch it tomorrow?

lol

Anyway something more ceremonious is supposed to happen tomorrow I think. And perhaps we'll even get an explanation of who exactly their new gold sponsor genes-x is...

And how a sponsor that you never heard of, can possibly afford a boat as expensive as this one!

genes-x? Is it some company of Ernesto's?

 

Joyon and Idec have been in Bordeaux since this morning, soon I guess he'll move downriver to Royan to be ready to start his Route de l'Amitié?

A webcam is now showing Idec moored along the river promenade. Another webcam image is first shown at the link below, but if you scroll down and click on the 'Garonne' alternative under 'Vues Associées', then you see where Idec is now.

Webcam Bordeaux/Garonne


And here's a still:

 

The "Sail of hope" concept is a very nice addition to the process of setting the reference time for the new route. Joyon is one of the few people I know who can somehow pull off grandiose and modest together.

 

^^

Robin Knox-Johnston will be jealous he didn't think of it. I'm sure you saw he's the senior entry (75yrs) for the Route du Rhum this year, with his Open 60 Grey Power.

Link

 

The latest press release describes the modifications made to Spindrift 2 and also a video that shows the new deck layout.

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/201...-series-40-metres-solo-episode-10-a-new-boat/

 

There was a recent post which I cant seem to find now by the Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 team that mentioned that they were having a new mast built using the MOD70 mast mold. It noted that the new mast will be ready in about two months.

 

Lemonchois said they opted for the MOD70 type mast because it would be more reliable, that it was the most recent mast studied by HTS.

But another two months is longer than I thought they were going to take, re-rigging the boat. It's on its way from Rio now, expected to get to France in a week or so.

...

Lalou/Arkema/Parlier got to Las Palmas last Saturday, said Parlier's kites worked well but haven't seen any photos of them, they are prototypes for kites intended to be used on cargo vessels, apparently.

...

Gitana have made a video describing their preparations, readying the MOD70 for Josse to singlehand it. They say they've lightened the boat by 'hundreds of kilos'.

...

Servane Escoffier is doing the RdR again, if she finds a sponsor, in a Sydney 60 (monohull) this time. Last RdR she did the race with ex-Jet Services V/Commodore Explorer!

In the write-up at Routedurhum.com they mention that she is just 1m63 tall and weighs 53 kilos (and she's got two young kids).

How about that!

 

A recent update from the Maitre Jacques Multi50 team on their facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Trimaran.Maitre.Jacques#

The Multi50 Maitre Jacques is in the process of receiving new floats for the 2014 season after the breakage of the starboard float in the Transat Jacques Vabre. The team notes that the breakage appears to be fatigue related so it was thought better to replace both floats rather than repair. The good consequence should be improved performance which will make the top end of the Multi50 field even more competitive.

 

A new article on the Sodebo Ultime website:

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/team-sodebo-ultim-ligne-droite

Just your standard build in progress type article. It looks like the revamped Geronimo/Sodebo Ultime will be ready for launch early in May.

 

Some photos have been published of the Multi50 Maitre Jacques new flotteurs:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.749277005104119.1073741838.194557893909369&type=1

 

A gallery of photos by Eloi Stichelbaut of the relaunched Spindrift 2 in shakedown mode after the program of modifications.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.736260659729111.1073741870.347512061937308&type=1

 

The Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran has arrived back in Lorient on the deck of the HHL Venice.

https://twitter.com/trimaranpdb

 

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 being unloaded at Lorient

http://youtu.be/nOBJzw3OD14