A New Zealand design
The Bruce Farr firm distinguished itself in 2003 by designing the IMOCA Virbac-Paprec, intended for Jean-Pierre Dick. The performance of this yacht led to a certain fashion effect, with six sailors having their 60-foot boats designed by Farr Yacht Design for the 2008 Vendée Globe.
Back in the IMOCA class after a long career as a mutlicoque sailor, Loïck Peyron is part of the "Farr gang". Supported by the Gitana Team, he was appointed skipper of the 60 footer named Gitana Eighty in homage to Baron Edmond de Rothschild, who would have celebrated his 80th birthday in 2007.
Prefiguring the cockpits of the 2016 generation, Loïck is adding a retractable cap which extends the deckhouse by 1.40 m and provides better protection for the skipper. The major innovation brought by Bruce Farr is the "trim tabs", two flaps placed at the rear of the hull, allowing the longitudinal trim to be adjusted according to the point of sail.
Inside, the cabin is completely stripped. The life cell is mounted on a gondola that swivels like a satellite thanks to a pin, allowing its weight to be transferred to the left or right depending on the speed.
Victories and setbacks
And as is often the case with Loïck Peyron, one victory follows another.
He won the Transat B to B and then won the English Transat for the third time, in spite of a detour to pick up Vincent Riou, who was forced to abandon his PRB damaged by a cetacean.
On the strength of his experience and the success of Gitana Eighty, Loïck Peyron is the big favourite for the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe, along with former winners Michel Desjoyeaux and Vincent Riou, also on Farr designs.
However, Gitana Eighty will dismast 3 weeks after the start, 650 miles from the Kerguelen Islands, whereas she was in the leading trio.
Yo-yo between Spain and Brittany
After racing a Jacques Vabre and the Barcelona World Race 2010 with the Spaniards Antonio Piris and Pachi Rivero, this 60-foot boat was acquired by Jean Le Cam, who is preparing for the 2012 Vendée Globe in Port la Forêt. Supported by Synerciel, he will finish in 5th place.
Shortly afterwards, the 60-foot boat set off again for Spain to compete in the Barcelona World Race 2014 in the hands of Anna Corbella and Gérard Marin, who will take third place on the podium.
Fabrice Amedeo bought him back in 2015 and brought him back to Lorient to prepare for the 2016 Vendée Globe, which he will finish in 11th place.
A second Vendée Globe for Romain Attanasio
Skippered by Romain Attanasio since 2018, Pure - Best Western has undergone a major winter refit to increase its performance.
It has not been fitted with foils (it keeps its daggerboards straight), but has been lightened by nearly 500 kg. The original sliding roof has been simplified, replaced by a fixed cap and the swivelling chart table has been removed.
At the helm of this IMOCA in prestigious hands, Romain is hoping to finish his second Vendée Globe in the Top 10.
Pure - Best Western - Romain Attanasio
- Sail number : ENG49
- Former names of the boat: Gitana Eighty - Synerciel - Newrest Matmut
- Architect: Bruce Farr Design
- Job-site : Southern Ocean Marine (New Zealand)
- Launch date: March 08, 2007
- Width: 5.80m
- Displacement (weight): 9t
- Number of drifts: 2
- Presence of foils: No
- Sail area upwind : 280m2
- Sail area downwind: 560m2
