A long development period
After Jean-Pierre Dick in 2004, Jeremy Beyou was the first of six skippers to ask Bruce Farr to design a 60-footer for the 2008 Vendée Globe. This design is narrower than the Finot-Conq models, but wider than the Lombard designs, with a pronounced chine that artificially increases the hull area.
Built at JMV in Cherbourg, this 60-footer required numerous adjustments. However, her first skipper, Jeremy Beyou, was unable to get the best out of the boat. Abandonments in the Route du Rhum, dismasting in the Barcelona Race and a broken spreader bar in the Vendée Globe 2008 marked his debut.
Two departures with Louis Burton
Under the colors of Bureau Vallée Louis Burton took over the boat and finished 7th in the Jacques Vabre 2011 before taking part in the Vendée Globe 2012, where he led the race at the start. However, a collision with a trawler off Portugal forced him to retire after just four days of racing.
Louis then followed up with some good results: 5th place in the 2013 Jacques Vabre, with Guillaume Le Brec, 5th in the 2014 Route du Rhum and 9th in the 2015 Jacques Vabre, with Romain Attanasio as teammate.
The boat underwent a major overhaul in 2016, with improvements in cockpit protection, keel replacement, boat reliability, as well as updates to electrical and electronic systems. On the strength of this experience, Louis Burton confidently set off on the 2016 Vendée Globe, finishing in 7th place in 87 days.
A story of solidarity between sailors
In 2018, Erik Nigon took over this boat with the intention of taking part in the 2020 Vendée Globe. After mixed results, with a 27th-place finish in the 2019 Jacques Vabre and a 10th-place finish in the 2018 Route du Rhum, Erik was unable to complete his budget for the Vendée Globe. For his part, Clément Giraud had a difficult time: after a fire on his IMOCA just before the Jacques Vabre 2019, his main sponsor terminated the partnership.
Despite these difficulties, Erik Nigon offered to lend his 60-footer to Clément, marking a fine gesture of solidarity between two sailors. The boat was welcomed into the facilities of Yannick Bestaven's team, where it underwent a complete overhaul. The work was condensed due to the limited time available before the start of the Vendée Globe.
The Farr design underwent extensive adjustments to be ready for the round-the-world race: rudders, ballast tanks, keel sails, bulb reduction, electricity, hydraulics, rigging and water suction system were all modified. However, for lack of time, Clément was unable to fit foils, an addition he would have liked to make had time permitted.
Despite this lack of power, Clément put in a fine performance, finishing in 21st place e place.
A new round-the-world trip with Sébastien Marsset
In the hands of Sébastien Marsset, this 60-footer has undergone a slimming treatment aimed at gaining the few superfluous kilos on this boat, which has already been optimized many times. Well sailed, she finished first in the Route du Rhum 2022, a fine performance for one of the oldest boats in the IMOCA fleet. Although it will be difficult for her to remain competitive in the transitional phases, her reliability could make all the difference to her fine finish in Les Sables d'Olonne.
