The next big event for the IMOCA skippers will be the Vendée Globe, which will start on 8th November. Registrations are now closed and more than 30 boats (one record?!) will take the start of the famous single-handed round the world race.
In the meantime, the sailors are busy with navigation and training courses. They will also have the opportunity to measure themselves on the 10 e edition of the Défi Azimut, organized in Lorient from September 9 to 13. On the program for these 4 days: speed runs, offshore sailing and a tour of the island of Groix.
A positive balance sheet and a dynamic class
The IMOCA class is doing well with boats that are increasingly innovative, given the latest launches: Hugo Boss or L'Occitane en Provence. In spite of the health crisis, the sailors have been able to take the start of a new race specially designed for the class, the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables-d'Olonne.
The class is keen to encourage gender equality, and there will be six women at the start of the Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race - a round the world race with stopovers - will be raced by a mixed crew.
At the heart of the discussions at the GA - which welcomed two new members in the person of Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Kevins Escoffier (PRB) - is the promotion and sustainable development. But also work on the gauge, as Antoine Mermode, president of the IMOCA class, explains.
"This year, we also did some important work on the gauge. The rules have been rewritten to be clearer, more precise and in line with all the teams."
Defining the changes in the measurement system for the Vendée Globe 2024-2025
"IMOCA is a Class of Innovation, it's part of our DNA and pulls us up. We don't want to restrict this aspect," explains Antoine Mermod. " However, we are operating in an economic context marked by uncertainty and we must be able to work within a controlled budgetary framework. Reconciling innovation and cost containment is not easy, especially as IMOCA projects are very diverse."
One of the major points of this discussion - the installation of bearing surfaces on the rudders - was not validated by the GA, as Antoine Mermod explains: "The subject has been studied a lot with the teams through the Class Technical Committee. This will be part of the future of the IMOCA, but it appears from the votes that it is still a little early to take this step, which is not insignificant in terms of R&D and budget. We will therefore continue to reflect on how to organise this in the medium term."
The design of the foils remains free, however, a size limit will be set. If the mast, keel and hydraulics are already "standard" elements, other elements such as the boom, foils and rudder systems will also be standard. The class also encourages the use of biomaterials for non-structural parts of the boats.
A rich race programme 2021-2025
In total, these next four years will be marked by the organisation of 18 solo, double-handed and crewed races, including two round the world races: The Ocean Race 2022-2023 (with stopovers) and the next Vendée Globe from 2024-2025.
But also well-known events: the Transat Jacques Vabre (in 2021 and 2023), the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe (in 2022), The Transat CIC (in 2024), the New York-Vendée-Les Sables-d'Olonne (in 2024). The Défi Azimut officially enters the Championship and the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables-d'Olonne will be organised again in 2022.
In June 2021, a new event organised by The Ocean Race team will take place. It is a race linking Brittany to the Mediterranean and will be called The Ocean Race Europe. This event will be crewed and will include several stopovers.
Composition of the Board of Directors
- Antoine Mermod, class president
- Jérémie Beyou (Charal)
- Arnaud Boissières (La Mîe Caline)
- Louis Burton (Office Valley 2)
- Kevin Escoffier (PRB)
- Charles Euverte (Team Manager DMG Mori Global One)
- Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-YC of Monaco)
- Paul Meilhat (President IMOCA Sport Commission)
