Julien Reemers is working to revive a former glory of the 2000s ocean racing circuits, the modified ORMA trimaran, which won as Gitana 11.
A consistent track record
Built in 2001, this ORMA trimaran was launched in the colors of Belgacom and was skippered by Jean-Luc Nélias. Powerful and fast, she then joined the Gitana team, and won the 2006 Route du Rhum with Lionel Lemonchois at the helm. In 2009, the organizers of the Route du Rhum allowed multihulls over 60 feet. In order to remain competitive with the new generation of giant multihulls, Gitana radically transformed this ORMA and extended it to 77 feet, under the name of Gitana 11.
She was then taken over by skipper Antoine Rabaste, who alternates between open races and outings open to individuals, via his company Ultim Emotions. It was during a delivery trip between Brittany and the Mediterranean that an electrical failure blacked out the pilot and caused the trimaran to capsize off Portugal.
The crew was not injured, and the trimaran's platform was repatriated and sheltered in an anchorage. It will remain there for nearly 3 years...
Looking for a trimaran to race the Route du Rhum
Originally from Le Havre, Julien Reemers is the father of two children. He has been a crew member and préparateur for a long time, notably during the golden age of the ORMA trimaran class.
"I am an amateur who has had the chance to sail with professionals. I have always been passionate about sailing and innovations. As a teenager, I built a Mini 6.50 carbon hull. Then I decided to make it my job and specialize in the implementation of composite. Today, I run Carbo Industrie, a company that manufactures composite parts for aviation and maritime, as well as the La Passagère shipyard on the banks of the Rance River."
It was while trying to acquire a trimaran to line up at the start of the Route du Rhum that Julien learned of the sale of this legendary trimaran. The different confinements do not make it easy to travel, but Julien goes to the bedside of this former glory abandoned.
Despite its repulsive appearance, the structure of the multihull is in good condition. The platform has been stripped by strangers, and one of the floats has a dent. But it takes more than that to discourage Julien.
Antoine Rabaste and the skipper from Saint Malo had a good relationship. A financial agreement was reached and Julien became the new owner of this neglected multihull.
A Malouin project
Julien Reemers now has great plans for this boat, within a dynamic Malouin ecosystem:
"We will bring the trimaran back to Saint Malo by sea, in tow of a motorboat. We will have a pair on the two boats, while a third team will follow us by road, to assist us if the convoy should stop in a port.
Saint Malo is experiencing a great craze around ocean racing. Several Ocean Fifty teams have settled in the corsair city. In order to structure ourselves, we have created the Héol Sailing Team, which will be based in La Passagère. In addition to the trimaran project, we will welcome other racers on various types of boats.
Our goal is to make this old boat perform again. We are lucky enough to have a mast that was given to us with the boat. After a big refit, we will line up for the next Quebec Saint Malo, and integrate the regatta circuit with the owners of the old Mod 70s, and as a climax, the Route du Rhum 2026.
We are looking for partners who wish to join this great adventure, via our website www.heol.bzh , so that this former glory of ocean racing can once again sail on a boat. "
