A questioned architectural design
A few days before the closing of the Route du Rhum registration, the SVR-Lazartigue trimaran has still not obtained its homologation to race in the Ultim 32/23 class. The latter questions the non-conformity of the boat with the Offshore Special Regulations 3.11. In the French version of the World Sailing that can be found on the FFVoile website, it states that "Sheeting winches should be installed in such a way that an operator does not need to be significantly below deck."
The class is therefore questioning the architectural design of François Gabart's trimaran, which has chosen to integrate the maneuvering and steering area in the central hull, below deck.
"There is a fundamental rule in the Navy that every sailor must respect: you must be able to keep a visual watch from the bridge or us on the working deck. This is a basic rule that applies equally to the Merchant Navy - which I know well, as I am a Merchant Navy officer by training - to fishing and of course to ocean racing. The architectural concept chosen by François and SVR poses a problem with regard to this fundamental rule of safety, which is obscured in the interests of aerodynamic performance. When François is inside his boat, he cannot see anything. François only has a direct view of his deck when he is at the helm. However, as we all know, when sailing single-handed, we are 90% of the time under autopilot, sitting in the cockpit near the winches and therefore not at the helm. In this case, the sailor only refers to cameras and systems, which we all have, but we also know from experience that nothing beats the human eye. For example, since I have been skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (2019, editor's note), we have almost had four dangerous collisions. Systematically it is the human eye and not the systems, which are an assistance, that has enabled us to avoid a collision. We are talking about safety and not performance explains Charles Caudrelier, skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild.
A concept that was validated at the outset
However, François Gabart's team assures that "All the steps and verifications necessary for the conformity of the Trimaran have been undertaken by the Class and this, since its conception in 2019. All the plans have been shared. The construction was followed by the Ultim Class measurer who never pointed out a possible problem of compliance with the Offshore Special Regulations 3.11 which describes the position of the winches in relation to the deck.
This is the same rule that the Class is now putting forward, once the boat is launched, to refute the conformity of the SVR-Lazartigue Trimaran.
It should be noted that several Vendée Globe boats with a similar configuration to the SVR-Lazartigue Trimaran have been issued measurement certificates in recent years, without any difficulty."
In support of its claims, SVR-Lazartigue details the following facts in a document:
"It is important to understand that the winch operators should not be clearly inside the boat. The interior of a boat is necessarily watertight and provides buoyancy. The cockpit of the Trimaran SVR Lazartigue is not a watertight area and cannot be considered as the "inside of the boat". Indeed, the bubbles above the cockpit are not watertight, as well as the halyards and sheets arrivals in the cockpit necessarily bring water. This is the reason why the cockpit is equipped with many holes (scuppers) to evacuate this water. Therefore, the winches of the SVR Lazartigue Trimaran located in the cockpit are not inside the ship. They are outside the watertight zone and therefore on the deck. The Ultim Class Supervisory Committee and the college of experts mandated by the Class thus concluded that the boat was compliant with rule 3.11. When François Gabart maneuvers in the cockpit, he is on deck. This cockpit and its occupants are protected by a non-watertight cover, which is essential in the event of a strong heel, intrusion of spar breakage or capsizing."
However, in 2021, the class mandated a group of three independent experts that it had chosen, to rule on the conformity of the trimaran and which unanimously validated the conformity of the boat. This opinion is apparently confirmed by the Class Monitoring Committee, composed of the Class measurer and a representative of the French Sailing Federation. However, the Class Board of Directors persists in refusing the membership of the SVR Lazartigue Trimaran.
The team denounces again: "Another action for the same elimination project was then brought before World Sailing, the international federation. The documents provided to them were inaccurate and did not correspond to the boat's plans. This new process initiated without our knowledge is disrupting the schedule and penalizing François Gabart and his teams in their preparation."
Participation in the 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre on exemption
However, François Gabart was able to participate in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021, where he finished second. But the Ultim class explains that the skipper obtained an exemption: " To participate in his first race a few months later, the Transat Jacques Vabre, Francois Gabart and his team had to obtain a waiver from the French Sailing Federation, as their boat did not meet all the conditions for obtaining the measurement certificate. As a reminder, this request had to be made to the FFVoileeuros; the SVR-Lazartigue trimaran was not a member of the Ultim 32/23 Class, and the Transat Jacques Vabre was run as a category and not a class. Considering the very short deadlines, which did not allow to proceed to the compliance, but especially in a sporting, constructive and collegial spirit, no shipowner opposed this request. However, it was clearly stated to MerConcept, as early as last October, that they would have to carry out the necessary work during their post-race winter refit in order to join the Class and thus register for the 2022 and 2023 regatta calendars."
The latter also states that the skipper and his team refuse to make any modifications to bring the boat into compliance: "To date, and despite numerous exchanges and working meetings that have brought together all parties, the SVR-Lazartigue trimaran still does not meet the required conditions. Indeed, the compliance of the trimaran to some rules, including rule 3.11 of the OSR (Offshore Special Regulations of World Sailing), is not established and was refuted by the World Sailing authorities on February 23, 2022. Consequently, the Class cannot admit her and deliver her measurement certificate necessary for her registration in the Route du Rhum euros Destination Guadeloupe."
What will be the outcome?
In his press release, François Gabart and his sponsor, who find the situation regrettable, conclude "Faced with this unjustified and unfair harassment, the Kresk Group and MerConcept reserve the right to use all legal means at their disposal to assert their right and obtain the homologation of the SVR LAZARTIGUE trimaran in the Ultim Class
As for the Ultim class, it is strong and responds by way of a press release: " The Ultim 32/23 Class, its owners, its skippers and all the members of the maxi-trimarans regret this situation, which is detrimental to all of them, and beyond, while being very far from their values. Nevertheless, discussions remain open, with the declared will to find a quick solution, guaranteeing safety and sporting fairness, as long as François Gabart is ready to comply with the rules that all the actors respect to date."
Let's hope that the different actors find a solution quickly, as good sailors whose values are solidarity and mutual aid.
