The skippers
Arnaud Boissières made his debut in the Mini-Transat. But before that, he was a professional skipper in the West Indies and prepared and sailed the boats of Catherine Chabaud and Yves Parlier. He also accompanied Olivier de Kersauson during his round-the-world record attempt, before making his own name.
After three years in the Figaro circuit, he participated in 2008 in his dream of sailing around the world aboard the 60-foot Akena Verandas in his first Vendée Globe. He finished in 7th place e place with an old generation boat. The public saw him as a sailor happy to share his adventure. Four years later, we find him again in the Vendée Globe.
Arnaud Boissières - credit : Stéphane Lhote
This Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 will be for the man known as "Cali" in the industry, his 24 e deckchair.
Stan Maslard is a sailor from Le Havre who will finally realize his childhood dream by participating in his first Transat Jacques Vabre. And it's with his friend the skipper Arnaud Boissières that he's going on the adventure.
He trained at the Lycée Professionnel Maritime Anita Conti in Fécamp. A rising figure in ocean racing, he is also the president of the Mini class. This eclectic sailor is also an outstanding preparator with solid marine and nautical knowledge. Winner of the 2007 Ecuador Route and 3rd in the 2005 La Rochelle-Salvador de Bahia Transat 6.50 are performances that can be found in the skipper's record of achievements.
Stan Maslard - credit: Stéphane Lhote
The IMOCA Open 60 of the Estrella Damm Sailing Team has an exceptional pedigree and knows the BWR course well: it is the boat with which Jean-Pierre Dick and Damian Foxall won the Barcelona World Race 2007-08, under the colors of Paprec-Virbac 2. It is a Bruce Farr design, built at Southern Ocean Marine in Tauranga, New Zealand and launched in February 2007. Since Pepe and Alex took it over after the Istanbul Europa Race, the boat has undergone a long and intense tuning process that has been tested in various ocean races. The two men had to arrive at the start of the Barcelona World Race in optimal conditions and know the boat inside out, two basic elements that are fundamental to achieving the best positions. The duo finished the Barcelona World Race 2010-11 in fourth place in 98 days.
Technical specifications
| Class | Imoca |
| Sail number | FRA 14 |
| Architect | Farr Yacht Design |
| Job site | Southern Ocean Marine (New Zealand) |
| Year of launch | 2007 |
| Length | 18,28 m |
| Width | 5,85 m |
| Draft | 4,50 m |
| Displacement (weight) | 9.2 tons |
| Number of drifts | 2 asymmetrical lines |
| Height matte | 28,5 m |
| Keel sail | CNC steel |
| Bulb material | Lead |
| Pole manufacturer | Southern Spars |
| Type of rigging | Rotating wing mast with articulated spreaders |
| Upwind sail area | 300 m2 |
| Sail area downwind | 570 m2 |
| Home port | Les Sables d'Olonne |
| Source of energy production on board | Hydrogenerators |
Awards
| Race | Skippers | Running time | Ranking |
| Barcelona World Race (31/12/2014) | Bruno and Willy Garcia | 99d 03h 06min | 5 |
| Barcelona World Race (31/12/2010) | Alex Pella | 98 days 20h 45' 59'' | 4 |
