A career start in a black suit
Having come out of the Neville Hutton yard in England for the Hugo Boss team, it is the quasi-sistership of Armel Le Cléac'h's former Brit Air, who finished 2nd in the 2008 edition. At the time of its launch, it had the peculiarity of having a roof split into two caps. The aim of this architectural option was to send all the manoeuvres back through the centre in order to save weight. At its launch, it is equipped with 2 straight daggerboards.
This Finot-Conq design finished 2nd in the Barcelona World Race in 2007, an event during which he was the first IMOCA to surpass the 500 mile mark in 24 hours, breaking the record of 447 miles held at the time by Christophe Auguin on Sceta Calbesron and dating back to...1995!
This boat (at last her keel!) became famous following a marketing campaign featuring the Welsh skipper in a tuxedo standing on the keel of his IMOCA at more than 50°.
Several unsuccessful attempts
Alex Thomson, a solid outsider in the 2008 edition of the Vendée Globe, saw his hopes of victory dashed after a violent collision with a trawler, eight days before the start. A race against the clock was then set in motion to repair the boat. The technical staff and the mobilisation of the Sablais allowed Alex to take the start, but unfortunately the weather conditions and certainly the fragility of the hull quickly dashed the Welshman's hopes.
It was then under the leadership of the Pole Zbigniew Gutowski that he took the start of the 2012 edition of the Vendée Globe, but recurring autopilot problems forced him to retire to the south of Australia.
Bought out by Stéphane Le Diraison in 2015, he will be at the start of the 2016 Vendée Globe, but dismasted 770 miles from the Australian coast, when he was in 10th place.
Boosted performance after two major projects
Repatriated to France by cargo ship, she underwent a major refit at the V1D2 yard near Caen. Equipped with a new mast, she finished 8th in the last Route du Rhum, 10th in the Bermuda 1000 Race, and 20th in the 2019 Jacques Vabre: Stéphane Le Diraison is accompanied by François Guiffant.
Eager to improve the performance of his IMOCA, Stéphane Le Diraison has undertaken major modifications at the Multiplast yard in Vannes. Foils have been installed in order to relieve this very wide hull. The rudders have been modified to match the load-bearing hull plan. On deck, the double cap has been abandoned in favour of a single protection covering half of the cockpit. Major lightening work has saved 690 kg.
"I feel an attachment to this boat, on which I have already travelled more than 20,000 miles. She has a special soul. She's very well-balanced, healthy and reassuring," explains Stéphane, whose goal is to complete his round-the-world trip in 80 days.
