Spirit of Hungary , Nandor FA
This is the third 60-foot monohull designed and built by Nándor Fa himself, in 2013. Equipped with a traditional carbon mast with spreaders, as well as a stainless steel keel, the boat has already completed a first circumnavigation of the world (the Barcelona World Race 2014-2015) and took part in the last Transat Jacques Vabre, with many technical problems that required major improvements, particularly on the keel and in the rigging.
StMichel-Virbac , Jean-Pierre DICK
It is a brand new IMOCA 60' (VPLP-Verdier built at the Multiplast yard) with which Jean-Pierre Dick will be taking part in his fourth Vendée Globe. Equipped with foils, StMichel-Virbac has been designed in collaboration with Sébastien Josse's Gitana Team. After retiring from the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre, Jean-Pierre had the boat's structure reinforced so that he could set off around the world in complete confidence. He has since reassured himself by training a lot, then completing The Transat and the New York/Vendée.
Edmond de Rothschild Sébastien JOSSE
This is the third new-generation IMOCA60 to be unveiled, which has similarities with its predecessors Safran and Banque Populaire, particularly in the hull shapes. However, this Verdier-VPLP design stands out on other points: a very open and lowered ergonomic cockpit, as well as the interior layout. Very light, equipped with foils, this new prototype is resolutely performance-oriented. But its skipper has also made reliability an absolute priority.
Safran, Morgan LAGRAVIERE
Safran is none other than the first born (2014) of the six VPLP-Verdier designs launched for the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe. This 60-foot IMOCA Open 60 - built at the CDK yard - is fitted with foils, the famous hydrofoils designed to increase performance in downwind conditions. Safran, the second of the name, has a powerful hull, which is flatter at the stern and more voluminous at the bow than her predecessor.
No Way Back Peter HEEREMA
It is the ex-Vento di Sardegna, a VPLP-Verdier plan with foils that was built in 2015, originally for the Italian Andrea Mura before his sponsors threw in the towel. It is a brand-new 60' IMOCA, a little gem of technology designed to be capable of winning the Vendée Globe. While Pieter Heerema's avowed ambition is above all to finish, it is possible that with the potential of his boat, the skipper is also aiming for victory. The boat has been reinforced at CDK in Lorient, following the damage seen on board the foilers in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015.
Banque Populaire VIII Armel LE CLEAC'H
It's Armel Le Cléac'h's new racing beast and has everything to enable his skipper to win the victory he's been waiting for for two editions. Armel and his Team were the first to test the foils. Since the launch of this VPLP-Verdier design in the summer of 2015 (built at CDK), the performance of the Banque Populaire VIII monohull has continued to improve. This boat is one of the most optimised new foilers and Armel has every confidence in her superb machine, aboard which she has won the English Transat and more recently the Azimuth Challenge.
Hugo Boss, Alex THOMSON
It is Alex Thomson's new IMOCA60 from the VPLVP-Verdier architectural firm and is equipped with load-bearing appendages. It is also one of the fastest in the world and one of the race favourites, with its visually innovative design. After retiring from the Transat Jacques Vabre, the boat was repaired and reinforced. Alex Thomson reassured himself last spring by finishing 3rd in the Transat New York/Vendée.
