High-performance trimaransâeuros¦ and foils
The Ocean Fifty Class brings together trimarans of 15.24 m in length and as much width, meeting a strict rule, allowing to control budgets, but not prohibiting certain innovations in architecture or construction. It has also undergone a profound conversion in 2016 and welcomes more and more sailors. Six in 2018, they will be eight on the starting line in 2022, the entire class.
Now equipped with foils, these small boats have gained about 20% on the reach with regular peaks of over 35 knots. Some even exceeded the 40 knot mark.
Previously named Multi50, the class has made a change in 2021 with a new name, Ocean Fifty and a new program, the Pro Sailing Tour. Each year, the class battles it out in crewed coastal regattas over several legs.
Weather permitting, the Multi50s should arrive in Guadeloupe shortly after the Ultims, after 8 to 10 days of racing. This was not the case in 2018, as the race was marked by difficult conditions. The reference time is still 11 days 5 hours and 13 minutes.
A tough boat to sail single-handed
Although Ocean Fifty is a human-sized boat, it is still quite tough. Firstly because we sail very exposed on board, as Erwan Le Roux, president of the class and winner of the 2014 Route du Rhum explained: "They are small boats, human size, but outside, it's the karcher. Compared to the Ultims, we are hyper exposed." Some sailors have also worked on the ergonomics of their boat to try to sail more dry.
Sailing an Ocean Fifty single-handed is also a challenge that the skippers in this class are aware of, as Quentin Vlamynck on Arkema explained to us: " The Route du Rhum is the most mythical race in the Ocean Fifty class. It is the most extreme race in our calendar. " Getting caught in an oversold condition is enough to cause a capsize, as Sam Goodchild on Leyton details: "I'm a bit apprehensive. Of all the boats that start the Route du Rhum, the Ocean Fifty are the most dangerous. Even the Ultim class friends were surprised by the commitment. "Lalou Roucayrol had moreover paid the price in the 2018 Route du Rhum by capsizing.
A homogeneous level
Despite the differences between the older boats, and the recent boats, notably Koesio, launched in 2021, the level is truly homogeneous in Ocean Fifty. If some of them are really at ease with a crew on the Pro Sailing Tour and can be considered as favorites, like Quentin Vlamynck on Arkema, winner in 2022 and Sam Goodchild on Leyton, winner in 2021, others love solo sailing and know their boat inside out.
Armel Tripon on Les P'tits Doudous will come to challenge for his title before moving on to the IMOCA circuit. Erwan Le Roux is the most experienced of the class and sails on Koesio, the latest addition to the fleet. Sébastien Rogues is sailing on an old boat, he has launched the construction of a new one, but has managed to win the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021. Thibaut Vauchel Camus on Solidaires En Peloton - ARSEP knows his boat by heart and loves these offshore conditions and speed. In fact, he has the 24-hour record. If Gilles Lamiré on Groupe GCA - 1001 Sourires does not particularly like the crew, he knows the road. Finally, Eric Péron komilfo, a newcomer on the circuit has years of experience in Figaro and many other media...
