As she relaunches her trimaran this Friday, May 31, 2024, Alexia Barrier reports on The Famous Project and the upcoming record attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy with her 100% female crew.
Alexia, how did the long winter job go?
Our maxi-trimaran needed a major overhaul. We were lucky enough to be able to set up shop at Multiplast, where the boat was born, to carry out all the work. The proximity of VPLP and North Sails also facilitated our work. We had access to all the history and engineering of all the elements on board.
We set up several workshops all around the platform. We changed defective parts and overhauled those that could be. Under the leadership of Eric Lamy and Guillaume Le Fur, no fewer than 15 people were involved in this major project.
What changes have you made?
Our philosophy is to keep the boat light and simple. The entire boat has been checked, either ultrasonically or by taping. Some carbon areas had to be reworked.
We've kept the cockpit wide open, while retaining the hat where 4 crew members can take shelter. Inside, we installed accommodation for a crew of 10, as well as a workspace for our mediawoman.
VPLP has drawn up load-bearing plans for the rudders, but perhaps this will be done at a later date
How will the first training sessions go?
We'll be settling in the port of La Trinité sur Mer, where we've received a very warm welcome. We've rented a crew house to accommodate all our staff. The proximity of the Spindrift and Actual teams creates a great dynamic.
Now we're going to have to find the controls for this giant. We're lucky to have the support of Franck Cammas and Loïck Peyron, who both skippered this multihull. It's great fun for them to be back on their old boat. They're going to help us find the right polars, to get the right boat speed at the different angles.
You run the only team with two trimarans, an MOD 70 and a maxi trimaran over 30m. How is this an advantage when preparing for the Jules Verne Trophy?
Training on the MOD 70 enabled us to recruit the future crew of the maxi trimaran, while at the same time creating a great sense of cohesion with the core team. The MOD 70 is technically much more demanding than the maxi trimaran, which enabled us to sharpen our reflexes.
We've sailed around twenty women on the MOD, with the aim of having an international crew. For me, the mix of cultures is a determining factor in the success of our project.
What's your training schedule for the coming weeks?
We'll be sailing with a crew of 10, with a mixed crew like on the MOD, and then with a 100% women's crew. We'll be heading down to the Mediterranean to sail with potential partners, as we're still looking for a title partner.
We'll be setting off on the Discovery Route to establish a reference time, which will be followed by a return transatlantic race. We'll then set out to beat the record for the round-the-British Isles race.
Then, the maxi trimaran will be taken out of the water again to prepare for the Jules Verne, for which we'll be setting sail in the winter of 2024-2025.
How far along are you in recruiting for your 100% all-female crew?
It's still a work in progress. We want to give as many female sailors as possible the opportunity to reach the top level. Dee Caffari will be my co-skipper for this adventure. At the moment, there are around ten of us on permanent contracts, and I'm determined to maintain genuine fairness in our team, particularly in terms of pay. We have to pay the girls the same as the men.
The girls each have an incredible amount of experience in a multitude of media. This brings real added value to our project.
