Launched in 2007 for Kito de Pavant, this IMOCA yacht had a difficult start. After a successful participation in the Vendée Globe 2020 with Maxime Sorel at the helm, the boat was taken over by Conrad Colman, whose project is to complete a new round-the-world voyage without recourse to fossil fuels.
The laughing cow, but one that suffers a lot of damage
Designed by Indiana Yachting to VPLP-Verdier specifications, this 60-foot yacht was launched for skipper Kito de Pavant under the Groupe Bel colors. This IMOCA has encountered numerous problems during its career. It finished 6th in the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre with Sébastien Col, but had to abandon the 2008 Vendée Globe after dismasting on the second day of the race.
After a fine 2nd-place finish in the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre with François Gabart, the boat again ran into difficulties. Kito had to retire from the Route du Rhum 2010 due to a keel head problem, as well as the Barcelona World Race 2010 due to a broken keel, and the Vendée Globe 2012 after a collision with a Portuguese trawler.
Taken over by Armel Tripon, the boat finished just off the podium in the 2014 Route du Rhum, coming in 4th. In 2015, she was bought by Thomas Ruyant and renamed Le Souffle du Nord for Le Projet Imagine.
Thomas Ruyant almost sinks
After extensive work focused on reliability, Thomas, accompanied by Adrien Hardy, finished 4th in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015. Qualified for the 2016 Vendée Globe, Thomas sent his boat back to the yard to enlarge the coachroof and replace the two steering wheels with a single tiller. New ballast tanks were installed under the cockpit, and a general overhaul enabled Thomas to present himself confidently at the starting line of his first round-the-world race.
However, while in 8th place, he collided with a submerged container off the coast of New Zealand. The impact was so violent that it cracked the forward third of his IMOCA. Thomas fought hard to save his boat and managed to motor back to the small port of Bluff.
After repairs, Enda O'Coineen, another unfortunate Vendée Globe competitor eager to complete his round-the-world voyage, took the boat to Les Sables-d'Olonne.
A successful debut for Maxime Sorel
Taken over by Cancale-born skipper Maxime Sorel, the boat will undergo a major refit.
In view of the boat's liabilities, and wishing to start afresh on a solid footing, this 60-footer was completely dismantled to enable every part to be checked. A strategy that paid off, as Maxime finished in 10th place e place in the last edition.
Conrad Coldman attempts another "clean" round-the-world voyage
For this 10 e edition, Conrad Colman is once again lining up at the starting line for a round-the-world race without the use of fossil fuels. Ranked in extremis after his dismasting in 2017, he crossed the finish line under jury rig.
In 2024, he'll be setting sail in this simple, reliable IMOCA, having already devoted a great deal of time and effort to energy management.
"To produce my energy, I plan to use only solar panels and a Watt&Sea hydrogenerator, which will require me to increase my storage capacity. I've increased the capacity of my batteries, offering two days' autonomy. In the event that I find myself stuck in the Doldrums, with no possibility of recharging with speed or the sun, I'll have a sufficient safety reserve. "
"I've reduced the number of screens and set up an energy-saving mode to improve my autonomy. I can also store a little more water than the others. As for the Doldrums, I'll run the watermaker upstream to minimize energy consumption during this period. "
"In certain phases, identified during my routing forecasts, I'll be less efficient because of my water fill-ups and overweight batteries. But having almost 3,000 watts of solar panels will allow me to be autonomous for several days, without having to think about when to recharge. This reduces the mental load, which is crucial when racing at sea. What's more, it's much nicer not to have to put up with the smell and noise of a combustion engine
IMAGINE / MS AMLIN
- Sail number : NZL 64
- Architect: VPLP - Verdier
- Built: 2007, Indiana Yachting, Italy
- Previous names: Groupe BEL, IMAGINE, For Humble Heroes, Le Souffle du Nord, Kilcullen Team Ireland, V and B - Mayenne, MAIL BOXES ETC.
- Length: 18.28 m
- Width: 5.50 m
- Draft: 4.50 m
- Weight: 8 tonnes
- Mast height: 29 m
- Mast type: Wing mast
- Foils: No
- Sail area: Nearly 365 m2, Carrying 700 m2
