An Upcycling project
In the summer of 2020, Sébastien Audigane is setting up a Class40 project, supported by the Entrepreneurs for the Planet association. But instead of building a new boat, Sébastien and his team have decided to salvage an existing Class40 and give it a major refit. "We picked up a Mach 40 built at JPS Prodution in 2017. This Manuard design finished second in the last Route du Rhum, in the hands of Aymeric Chappellier (Aïna Enfance et Avenir)."
"We can do better with old" brings us Quentin Gilles, director of the association and former teammate of Sébastien. The two sailors met during their Olympic preparation in Soling, then broke the Mediterranean record on board the giant catamaran Orange 2.
"Anxious to convey values consistent with the project, we undertook a thorough modification of a recent and high-performance Class40, but which could still be upgraded. Starting from this excellent base, the technical team has deeply modified the front third of the hull to give it a new shape. We tried to bring eco-responsible solutions to all the problems of the yard."
Minimize the environmental impact of the construction site
Concerned about minimizing waste, the team has undertaken a great deal of work with all its service providers.
"A project like this requires many different trades: stringers, painters, sail makers, master sailors... We challenged the service providers to come up with solutions that best meet our values. In the long term, our goal is to integrate our approach into the nautical industry by showing them that we can try to gain in eco-responsibility at all levels, and to establish a win-win relationship between the profitability of a shipyard and its environmental impact."
A site in Marseille
After several months of work in the Phocaean harbor, the Class40 returned to its element at the beginning of March 2021 to validate the modifications made during the winter. Then she will join the Atlantic coast in June to participate in the circuit events.
We were present at the first tacks of the boat in the Marseilles harbor. The boat is superb in its new livery, and seems to be well positioned on the water. With this high-performance boat, there is no doubt that Seb Audigane will be able to fully express his talents as a skipper and be at the forefront of the upcoming season!
