Second Blow for Le Trimaran USE IT AGAIN
When Romain recovers the racing trimaran of more than 23 meters long, it is out of use, abandoned for more than 6 years in Brest. 2 years of work will then be necessary for USE IT AGAIN to be reborn. It is thus in 2018 that she will be back on the water, ready to sail.
Romain Pilliard wishes through the trimaran USE IT AGAIN to influence, sensitize and emphasize the preservation of our environment and the safeguard of our beautiful planet by applying the principle of the "3Rs":
REDUCE: REDUCE the amount of waste we produce
By rearming this trimaran from 2003, he avoids first of all the production of a new boat and therefore the creation of new materials such as carbon or exotic fibres (hardly recyclable). It reduces the use of new resources and avoids consuming new ones.
The trimaran is also intended to be "non-technological", bringing together the least amount of on-board technology compared to most racing boats. It is equipped with basic technology (autopilot, radar, satellite phone, PC), the aim always being to have the bare necessities. It is also equipped with solar panels, a wind turbine and a hydrogenerator to produce the energy needed to power the electrical appliances essential for single-handed sailing.
SUCCESSFUL: REUSE as much of the equipment as we can before replacing it with new equipment
Romain Pilliard will use as much second-hand equipment and materials as possible or materials from overproduction at the suppliers that correspond to the needs of the boat: ropes, sails, solar panels, wind generator, navigation system, winch, engine parts... We reuse as much as possible what already exists.
USE IT AGAIN's gennaker was also redesigned in the Code Zero that Francis Joyon used on his boat Eure et Loir in 2000. This is also the case for the genoa and staysail (J1 and J2). These sails come from another team which no longer had the use for them, they were adapted to the trimaran (luff length, addition of zip to be furled on the fixed forestay), then repaired to reach the end of their second life.
When there is breakage on the boat, every effort is made to repair the part before replacing it. This is not a question of aesthetic and absolute performance, but of reasoned consumption and relative performance.
RECYCLE: RECYCLE the material as much as possible
When the equipment breaks and is no longer in working order, Romain Pillard will do everything possible to encourage recycling. The aim is to develop recycling techniques for parts that are not normally recycled. In particular, he is working with a company in the Netherlands that reuses the forestay (a textile cable that holds the boat's mast made of PBO fibres), transforming it into gloves that are resistant to very high temperatures. He also builds new parts for the boat in 3D printing from recycled yarn. The aim is to reuse the existing material as many times as possible!
A sports program to raise awareness of the circular economy.
In this sporting environment where performance and technical innovation of the boats are paramount, Romain Pilliard is going against the tide and wishes to demonstrate the performance of his trimaran, reconditioned according to the principles of circular economy.
In 2018, he took part in the Route du Rhum where he finished 4th in the Ultim category. Whilst the sailing conditions were very hectic during this edition of the Route du Rhum (1/3 abandonment) the trimaran USE IT AGAIN suffered little breakage, no capsize and recorded peak speeds of up to 39 knots. Romain Pilliard managed to lead his boat to the end of the race. He thus proves that it is possible to practice this sport, to go for performance, to enjoy sailing while being respectful of the environment and of one's playground.
Romain Pilliard is planning other great adventures. USE IT AGAIN will take part in one big transatlantic race a year and also in crewed races in Europe. It will take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre in October 2021, the Route du Rhum in November 2022 and races such as the Tour de Belle-Île (of which Romain is the founder), the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Tour of the Isle of Wight. The aim is always to raise awareness and influence as many people as possible through these events on the importance of moving towards a certain sobriety in order to protect our Blue Planet.
You can follow the adventures of the trimaran USE IT AGAIN on social networks. You can also take part in this project for the development and promotion of the circular economy by supporting the USE IT AGAIN endowment fund by going to useitagain.earth in the Join us section.
