A six-month optimization project
July 29, 2018, Norbert Sedlacek was setting off in his 60-foot Open60AAL proto for a world record attempt around the world across all oceans. A project aborted after only two days of navigation . The reason? Too short a preparation (launch in mid-May 2018 and first navigation on 20 June, i.e. one month of tests at sea) and therefore unreliable technical elements.
Since her return to Les Sables-d'Olonne, the boat has continued to sail and after analyses in dry dock, it appears that "all the main elements are in perfect condition." From now on, the Innovation Yachts shipyard (which builds custom racing and pleasure boats made of volcanic rock fibre and balsa wood) will start analysing details and optimising technical details.
This construction period should last until the end of 2018. The boat should be reassembled at the beginning of 2019 (January/February) before being launched again in March 2019. The mast is scheduled for April. The new start of this double world tour will be given on July 21, 2019 in Les Sables-d'Olonne, depending on the weather conditions of course.
A double world tour to make a new design method more reliable
This boat has a real potential to attract a European clientele. It is rewarding, widely customizable, its price is reasonable and it should be relatively efficient. around the world more than 34,000 nautical miles is quite atypical since it consists of departing from Les Sables-d'Olonne and then heading southwest of Greenland to continue northwest and cross the Northwest Passage (north of Canada and Alaska). After the Bering Sea Norbert will sail south across the Pacific Ocean to round Cape Horn for the first time. Then he will sail around Antarctica, then round Cape Horn a second time and finally sail up the Atlantic to return to Les Sables-d'Olonne.
This extreme round the world trip will make it possible - in addition to validating a sporting challenge - to demonstrate the reliability of new construction materials . In this article, we will see how to roll up long ends. In this example the technique is described for a right-handed person.
