Alan Roura distinguished himself in 2016 for his first Vendée Globe. We still remember the tears of emotion of the youngest competitor of the race (23 years old in 2016) at the time of the descent of the channel, or the sharing of his round the world solo with his many photos. On La Fabrique, he finished at the 12 e position.
When he gets back, Alan and his sponsors decide to continue together for a 2020 Vendée Globe project and buy a new boat - designed for the first Vendée Globe d'Armel le Cléac'h and ex-MACSF in the hands of Bernard De Broc. The young Swiss will also participate on board the new La Fabrique on the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 .
Now - and as was planned for the 2020 Vendée Globe - the 60-foot monohull is equipped with foils and was relaunched on Monday 16th July 2018. In more than five months of work, the 60 foot boat designed in 2007 has been profoundly transformed in view of the Route du Rhum and, eventually, the Vendée Globe 2020.
"I don't realize well... The Factory is in the water, finished! That's great, that's unimaginable. The boat has recovered its lines of the time, it is magnificent, it is as I had imagined it. And then we achieved our goal of not gaining weight despite the addition of foils. The team has worked really well, now we can't wait to sail!" exclaimed Alan Roura.
Lighten the boat
With the aim of lightening the boat, the sail locker has been completely rebuilt to remove the material additions, repairs and other rework accumulated in recent years. The cockpit cap - originally built in composite - has been replaced by a lighter and more ergonomic textile structure. Always with a view to saving weight and ergonomics on board.
For the moment, the ballasts and the life cell remain the same, but could be subject to modifications during winter work sites.
Redesign the deck layout
Thanks to his experience on the Transat Jacques-Vabre 2017, Alan Roura was also able to adapt his boat and rethink his deck layout. The location of the deck fittings, the end path, new chandeliers, footrests and cockpit fittings were therefore put in his hand.
G-shaped foils
La Fabrique foils cannot be fully retracted along the hull and therefore have no"off" position. A decision by Finot-Conq, to meet the specifications of Alan Roura, who wanted to gain performance at all speeds - close to the wind included.
These foils are thus in the shape of"G", with curved shaft which emerge by the bridge, when those of generation 2015 were more in"L" and ended for the majority inside the boat. A line which also makes it possible to preserve the openings of the old daggerboards, only the wells (in which the foils pass through the hull) having needed to be modified.
Apart from the foil wells (which replace the daggerboards), their local reinforcements, and a new carbon rig, no reinforcements were necessary to adapt to the foils.
Alan Roura will also have the opportunity to adjust the incidence of the foils (as has been authorised for the next Vendée Globe), which will require particularly hard work.
"When we discovered Finot-Conq and Michel Kermarec's final proposal, it was exactly what we imagined. I know that this solution will be demanding in navigation, but I'm here to work and keep learning, I'm ready" said the young skipper.
The objective is to gain an average of 10 to 20% speed depending on wind and sea conditions. From now on, the skipper will attack the Drheam Cup (qualifying for the Route du Rhum) on 23 July then on an offshore training course in August, before taking the start of the Défi & Trophée Azimut on 21 September and setting off on the Route du Rhum on 4 November next.
