The success of the Verdier plans
Made at Persico, Linkedout is a quasi-sistership of Apivia, the other Verdier plan committed to this 2020 edition. The hull and cockpit are different between the two prototypes. Thomas wanted a simple boat, with reliable and proven solutions. No extreme choices or architectural extravagances. The deck is curved to lower the centre of gravity on the one hand, but also to limit the height of the support bulkheads and thus save weight.
The team wanted to pay particular attention to the ergonomics of the cockpit and life cell. The organisation of the piano is a model of its kind, and Thomas installed a bucket seat moulded to his morphology in front of the chart table . This is fixed in the opposite direction of travel for two reasons: it will not be ejected in the event of a buffet stop, and it is in the direction of exit if it has to reach the cockpit in a hurry.
At the forefront
Engaged on the Transat Jacques Vabres 2019 with Antoine Koch as co-skipper, Linkedout had to make a technical stopover in Cherbourg shortly after the start, in order to solve a driver problem. The duo set off from Cherbourg 150 miles behind the leader, in last position. Thomas and Antoine will make an incredible comeback, finishing 5th in Salvador de Bahia.
In the Arctic Vendée, Thomas demonstrated his talent by taking 1st place as far as the south-west of Iceland. He will finish on the 3rd step of the podium, behind Charal and Apivia.
V2 foils
New foils, long and flat, were installed at the beginning of 2020. According to Guillaume Verdier, its architect: "The V2 of Linkedout is a little more spoon-shaped, in order to have a little more tolerance to heel and to ventilate less". "We will keep the high speeds longer, with greater stability. This is fundamental for a tour of monde?; being able to maintain high averages for a long time," Thomas explains.
Advens' beautiful gesture
Advens, Thomas' main partner and France's leading pure player in cyber security, has decided to offer the name and visibility of its boat to LinkedOut, the social network of people in precarious situations.
From young talent to Vendée Globe favourite
The boat is particularly swift upwind and on small reaching reaches, the predominant speeds at the start of the course, and on the way up the Atlantic. Previous editions have shown that the climb up the Atlantic was often the scene of major upheavals in the rankings. If Thomas emerges well placed at the exit of the Deep South, we will have to count on him for the final sprint.
He had to give up in 2016 following a clash with a UFO. He returns in 2020 with a new boat, an optimized preparation and a talented team. Thomas is ready to take on the challenge to climb one of the steps on the podium of the 2020 edition.
Linkedout-Thomas Ruyant
