The 16th of the Gitana siblings
Meticulously built at the Multiplast yard, this 60-foot boat is one of the seven prototypes designed by VPLP-Verdier for the 2016 Vendée Globe. Named Edmond de Rothschild-Gitana 16, it is a well-born machine that impressed when it was launched.
While the hulls of Safran II and Banque Populaire VIII are identical, Gitana 16's hull is narrower and features a very voluminous bow and very flat lines, to increase the power of the boat. The cockpit is particularly flat and uncluttered, so that the sails can be stored in it and the centre of gravity can be lowered and moved back.
Compared to the previous prototypes, the mast is set back 80cm to favour downwind and reaching speeds.
Podiums or retirements for Sébastien Josse
Sebastien Josse chose Charles Caudrelier to race the 2015 Jacques Vabre, which will be the boat's first ocean race. However, after 3 days of racing, the duo had to retire after the titanium attachment on the port outrigger broke.
Sébastien still manages to get to the start of the Transat Saint Barth-Port la Forêt, which he will win with almost 3 days ahead of his dolphin. The boat went into the yard to change her foils and modify the distribution of the ballast tanks. Seb Josse then took part in the start of The Transat (ex-English transat), but gave up on a torn mainsail. However, he finished 2nd in the New York Vendée, completing the podium with the winner Jeremy Beyou and Alex Thomson, 3rd.
Sébastien is logically one of the favourites at the start of the 2016 edition of the Vendée Globe. After an express descent of the Atlantic, Gitana 16 was in third place when a major damage to the port foil forced her skipper to divert to Fremantle and abandon the race.
Busy schedule for Boris Herrmann
Taken over by the German Boris Hermann in 2017, Gitana 16 will be sailing under the colours of the Yacht Club of Monaco. Boris has his sights set on the 2020 Vendée Globe and will be imposing a very intense sailing programme on himself. He finished third in the Fastnet Race (with Pierre Casiraghi), then fourth in the Transat Jacques Vabre (with Thomas Ruyant). For his first solo race, he finished 5th in the Route du Rhum.
In 2019, the GP Guyader, Bermuda 1000 Race, Fastnet Race and the Jacques Vabre will also follow. These results have allowed Boris to be top of the standings in the IMOCA Globe Series, the World Championship for the class.
A militant ship
In order to attend the World Climate Summit at the United Nations, the young activist against global warming, Greta Thunberg, travelled between Europe and New York on this IMOCA rather than by plane. In order to be consistent with the young girl's ecological message, the on-board electronics are no longer powered by the engine (sealed at the start), but only by the two hydrogen generators and the solar panels.
To return to Europe, Greta will take her place aboard the Outremer 45 Sailing La Vagabonde, skippered by Elayna Carausu and Riley Whitelum.
Boris is partnered with Seaexplorer, which develops underwater exploration systems. Thanks to this partner, numerous devices for measuring C02, pH and salinity will be embarked on board the 60-foot vessel, and the results will be communicated to various scientific institutes around the world.
Ugraded at the level of the best
A major refit was carried out this winter to equip Seaexplorer Yacht Club de Monaco with new foils. These latest generation profiles, designed by VPLP, are intended to develop more lift (power) than the previous foils. They have been advanced to allow Boris' 60-foot boat to take off earlier, but the boat's structure had to be modified to move the foils wells. The roof was also modified to improve visibility forward.
With this very fast boat, Boris Herrmann, the first German to take part in the Vendée Globe, could create a surprise and finish in the leading pack.
Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco - Boris Herrmann
- Sail number: 16
- Former names of the boat: Edmond de Rothschild, Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco
- Architect : Verdier - VPLP
- Job-site : Multiplast
- Launch date: August 07, 2015
- Width: 5.70m
- Displacement (weight): 7.6t
- Number of daggerboards: foils
- Sail area upwind : 290m2
- Sail area downwind: 490m2
