No 100% flying IMOCA before 2028
The IMOCA Class held a general meeting of its members, comprising over 40 skippers on the circuit, to vote on technical and organizational changes to the association. In particular, they were invited to vote on the technical aspects of appendages.
The main resolution put to the vote concerned the introduction or banning of load-bearing planes on monohull rudders. After a contradictory debate, between those in favor of opening up to T-shaped rudders to enable yachts to fly steadily over long distances, arguing for the need for innovation within the class and the comfort of sailors, and those in favor of rudders without load-bearing planes, arguing for significant and unsustainable costs and developments, the latter won by a wide margin, with 86 votes against, 32 in favor and 11 skippers not expressing an opinion. IMOCA boats will not be fitted with T-shaped rudders until 2028 and a new revision, and therefore the campaign for the Vendée Globe 2032. At a time when the divide is widening between ultra-technological racing on all-flying boats, and sober sailing on tried-and-tested, even vintage boats, the choice of a middle way may come as a surprise, and confuse fans and sponsors alike.
Other technical parameters, such as adapting the safety coefficients of one-design masts to the new, higher boat speeds, were also voted in.
Limiting the carbon footprint of boats
Technological jewels, IMOCA yachts are not the most environmentally-friendly boats. The Class is therefore working to limit its impact. A method for estimating and reducing CO2 impact was submitted to the general meeting, and its president, Antoine Mermod, was delighted: "Today we are proposing a new rule, inspired by the one used on the America's Cup, to provide a framework for the impact reduction method. This rule has been drawn up in consultation with our teams, our suppliers, our builders and the entire sector concerned. It is the first step towards establishing a Cap Carbone for IMOCA".
