A recyclable and reusable resin
For the past 5 years, the company Lalou Multi, founded by the sailor Lalou Roucayrol and his wife, has been working on modifying the construction processes of competition boats. Thus, with its partner Arkema, it has worked on the implementation in the nautical industry of a thermoplastic resin called Elium. This resin makes it possible to manufacture thermoplastic composites that are an alternative to thermoset composites, which are neither reusable nor recyclable.
These Euro composites are 50% lighter than steel and 30% lighter than aluminum and are thermoformable and heat-sealable. The thermoplastic material softens when the composite parts are heated. They can then be shaped or welded using a simple process that avoids the need for adhesives. The material can then be recovered and reused by heating and melting it.
"Kéni will take the helm of a boat that is unique in the world. Captain Alternance is a demonstrator of a major technological breakthrough. It took us more than 5 years of research to achieve this result. It is a challenge that Lalou Multi takes up every day to make our sport more responsible and virtuous explains Lalou Roucayrol.
A Lombard plan adapted for its skipper
The Class40 Captain Alternance euros first of its kind euros has been slightly modified from the original plans, according to the will of its skipper Kéni Piperol. Thus, the deck and the companionway door have been adapted, the roof has been lengthened and the aerodynamics reworked.
The Route du Rhum 2022 in the sights
The coming weeks will allow the skipper to get to know his boat before taking part in several races on the Class40 circuit: the 1000 miles of Les Sables, the Normandy Channel Race, the Drheam Cup, before the highlight of the season, the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe 2022.
