A mythical boat in French sailing
Esprit d'Equipe is the first French boat to win the mythical Whitbread, the round-the-world race with stopovers and crew. Launched in 1981, she participated in the third edition under the name 33 Export. Her race ended with a dismasting during the second leg. After being repatriated to France by cargo ship, it was reconditioned by Lionel Péan and Philippe Briand. The smallest boat to take the start of the 4th edition in 1985, it was declared the winner at the end of the last leg, whose finish was in Portsmouth. Team spirit, an epic that left its mark.
After having raced unsuccessfully in the 90's under Patrick Tabarly's command, the big aluminium sloop was converted into a charter boat in the rough seas of Patagonia.
Ocean Globe Race 2023: an old-fashioned crewed round-the-world race
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread race, Don McIntyre, the organizer of the 2018 Golden Globe Race, wanted to organize a new "retro" ocean race. So he set up the Ocean Globe Race, which will take place in four legs around the world, between September 2023 and April 2024. After a departure from Europe, the stopovers will be in Cape Town, Auckland, Punta Del Este and then back to Europe.
Divided into 3 classes, 21 crews registered for this race. To participate, the boats must be older than 1988, and measure between 47 feet and 68 feet.
In order to respect the retro aspect of the race, the following equipment is not allowed on board:
- GPS
- Electric autopilots
- Satellite phone
- Amateur radio transmissions
- Carbon fiber or other high-tech materials used in sails, rigging, spars...
- Spinnaker socks, reel, Code 0
- No more than 11 sails for sloops or 13 sails for ketches. Time penalties will be applied for additional replacement sails.
- iPhone, iPad and computers are allowed under seal on board for use by crew in ports only
- Digital music is not allowed, only cassettes are allowed
Lionel Regnier's obstacle course
As soon as registration opened, skipper Lionel Regnier expressed his interest in this race. It was quite natural that he was interested in Esprit d'Equipe, then on sale in Patagonia. Considering the distance between France and Tierra del Fuego, Lionel chose this boat based on a description and photos.
The Covid having complicated the international travels, it took Lionel and his team 3 weeks of travel to reach Puerto Williams. A quarantine period is imposed at each airport stopover.
The crew is preparing as well as it can the Team Spirit for a long return to Europe, and the first days of sailing are invigorating, as Lionel explains to us:
"The pilot left us after a few hours. So we had to steer constantly, so it's good for training but not for the comfort and fatigue of the crew. The engine was also very temperamental, and the interior was constantly wet due to a lot of water infiltration."
It will take nearly 4 months for the crew to bring L'Esprit d'Equipe back to its new home port of Les Sables d'Olonne.
A total refit before a world tour
Once ashore, L'Esprit d'Equipe is completely stripped down. Everything has to be checked on this forty year old sailboat. The interior is completely stripped, then the engine is removed.
The exposure reveals the poor condition of some aluminum parts. Major welding work is done, while the bottoms are foamed. New floors and sponge pads are welded on top.
New accommodations are installed, as well as the racing bunks for the crew.
The mast, standing rigging and engine are replaced with new ones, while the rigid cap in front of the helm station is improved.
A part of the deck plan is replaced, and all the circuits on board are refurbished.
Lionel has achieved his first feat by uniting a whole team to carry out this colossal project. This surge of solidarity even reached Lionel Péan's ears, who was present at the christening of the boat in Les Sables d'Olonne. The next objective is to complete the budget.
