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In the IMOCA class, evolution is now a matter of structural details, fine-tuning and deliberate choices. With Charal 2, Jérémie Beyou's team has taken a rare step forward. After its victory in the Transat Café L'Or, the monohull was literally opened up to replace its entire hull bottom. This extraordinary operation was a long-term project, undertaken in response to the lessons learned since the boat was launched in 2022.
Rethinking the hull based on the boat's actual flight
From its very first sailings, Charal 2 stood out for its V-shaped rudders, designed to encourage prolonged flat flight. This choice quickly revealed a hydrodynamic contradiction. The initial scow-type hull offered power in the heel, but proved less suited to a boat that would sail more often flat than expected.
The navigation data confirmed this trend. The boat flies longer, with less heel, which profoundly alters the balance. Adapting the hull seemed a logical next step, with the aim of improving glide and reducing hydrodynamic drag in these stabilized flight phases, even if it meant accepting a slight loss of power due to reduced heel.
A project never before seen on this scale in the IMOCA class
While some IMOCA boats have already undergone structural repairs, notably on the bow, never before has a project involved replacing the entire hull bottom. Visually, the operation is spectacular. The entire length of the monohull was cut away, revealing a stripped-down internal structure, reduced to its main framework.
The transformation gives the impression of a hollowed-out boat, as if stripped of its skin. A powerful image, illustrating the scale of the technical challenge undertaken by the Charal team. The choice of this option marks a clear break with the gradual adjustments usually favored in the class.
Close coordination between design office and worksite
Reflection begins in winter 2024. VPLP works with the Charal team on the design of the new hull. Gurit, already involved in the boat's initial structure, intervened to define the necessary structural modifications. At the same time, the new half-hulls are manufactured at Gepeto Composite, in the immediate vicinity of Charal's base.
This preparation phase allows us to anticipate the final assembly as far as possible. The actual work begins after the return from the Transat Café L'Or. From mid-December onwards, the teams start cutting the carbon, a long and demanding operation, carried out over several weeks, in a dusty and noisy environment.
Reconstruction and millimetric precision
Once the hull is open, the technicians concentrate on adapting the internal structure. Each element has to match the new geometry, without compromising the boat's overall rigidity. Fitting the new half-hulls is a key phase of the project. Tolerances are minute, and each alignment determines the future behavior of the monohull.
After composite assembly, scheduled for spring, all mechanical, hydraulic and electronic systems will be reinstalled. The launch is scheduled for June, opening a window of around six months before the Route du Rhum.
Expected gains in fast gaits and light airs
On the water, expectations are focused. The new hull is designed to improve speeds in excess of 15 knots, as well as light wind conditions, two areas where Charal 2 still has room for improvement. The refit also aims to make the boat more forgiving, particularly when sailing single-handed.
Feedback from crewed and double-handed racing has shown that the boat's potential is more easily exploited by more than one person. The aim now is to bring this level of performance closer to that achievable single-handed, a decisive parameter with a view to the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe.
