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An amateur sailor, a cruising multihull and the legendary route of the Jules Verne Trophy. The VIVANT JV project is based on a simple but demanding idea: to sail around the world single-handed, non-stop and without assistance, on one of the most challenging courses on the planet for a sailing boat. Behind this ambition lies firstly a self-taught sailor's career, then a major technical project, and finally the search for a boat and partners capable of supporting this attempt.
A seafaring career built far from the professional circuit
Olivier Marchand's background is not in ocean racing. His relationship with the sea began much earlier, during childhood, with family trips to the shores of the Mediterranean. Swimming, light sailing, windsurfing and nights spent on the water's edge nurtured an imagination that would remain with him to this day.
Sailing gradually became a learning ground. Optimist, Hobie Cat 16, windsurfing, then cruising. The course was built up in stages, often solo. Like many yachtsmen, he discovered the sea through direct experience, sometimes rough.
A crossing from Hyères to Corsica in 1999 marked a turning point. Fatigue, seasickness, worsening weather and navigation errors. The episode stays with him for a long time. A few years later, a new crossing between Marseille and Calvi enabled him to turn a personal corner. This time, the boat made headway without major incident, even if caution still prevailed on board.
Since then, sailing has been a sideline to a medical career in Grenoble. Sailing on Lake Geneva, regular windsurfing outings on Lake Monteynard and family cruises are all part of this ongoing practice. As time goes by, solo sailing becomes more and more frequent.
The Jules Verne Trophy on the horizon
It all started back in the early 1990s. In 1993, the first attempts at the Jules Verne Trophy captivated many sailing enthusiasts. The crews led by Peter Blake, Olivier de Kersauson and Bruno Peyron opened up an unprecedented field: a round-the-world sail in less than 80 days.
At the time, adventure was read in specialized newspapers and listened to on the radio. These stories had a lasting impact on Olivier Marchand. The power of ocean-going multihulls, the southern seas and non-stop sailing became an imaginary reference point.
As the years go by, this horizon does not disappear. Successive editions of the Vendée Globe and round-the-world records maintain this thread. Single-handed sailing has gradually become the most coherent form of this personal project.
The VIVANT JV program was born of this reflection. It aims to complete a round-the-world voyage on the classic Jules Verne Trophy route, between Ushant and Ushant, leaving the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port.
A cruising multihull facing the South Seas
The particularity of the project lies in the boat envisaged. Unlike previous attempts, carried out by professional sailors on racing machines, VIVANT JV plans to use a production multihull designed for ocean cruising.
Several models are being studied, including the Outremer 5X, the Catana OC2 and the Windelo 54. These catamarans are renowned for their ability to cruise at speed, while maintaining a high level of comfort and autonomy. But the program announced goes far beyond their usual use. The Jules Verne route involves southern seas, long swells, fast low-pressure systems and heavy loads on structure and rigging.
A program like this calls for a great deal of preparation. Reinforced standing rigging with tension sensors, adapted fittings, high-performance sails capable of withstanding the miles, high-performance autopilot, redundant electronic systems and organization of maneuvers for a solo sailor. Cockpit ergonomics and load management are also essential parameters.
The challenge is clear: to demonstrate just how far a well-prepared ocean-racing multihull can go on an extreme sailing program.
Preparations already underway at sea and on land
The sailor's preparation has already begun. Olivier Marchand is currently working on his physical condition, with between 30 and 50 km of running per week. More specific training will follow, focusing on stamina, recovery and fatigue management.
At sea, he regularly sails a C-Cat 37 to develop his fast catamaran skills. The aim is to accumulate single-handed miles, work on trimming with two headsails and improve the use of the autopilot in conjunction with the boat's polars.
Sleep management is also a key issue. On a non-stop round-the-world trip, the ability to maintain an efficient watch while recovering becomes a decisive skill that Olivier MARCHAND has already worked on extensively during his career, notably during his many night shifts as a dispatcher at the Isère 15 center.
These navigations also serve to test the sailor's reaction in less comfortable conditions. Seasickness, with which he is very familiar, is one of the situations worked on to maintain the lucidity needed for maneuvering.
A project looking for boats and partners
The VIVANT JV project is now entering its structuring phase. An association is being set up to support the organization and coordinate the various skills mobilized around the project.
The first need is the boat. Without a suitable platform, it will be impossible to undertake the preparatory studies and test sailings required before departure. A search for financial partners is already underway.
The project is also looking for a shipyard or technical partners capable of supporting the preparation of the catamaran. The aim is to optimize the boat for a highly committed sailing program, working on fittings, rigging, electronics and wardrobe.
Preparing the sailor is another aspect. Diet, sleep strategy, physical training, weather training and on-board repairs are just some of the areas identified.
Finally, the project includes a video follow-up with Explora Production, a company specialized in capturing sporting events. The aim is to document the preparation and the round-the-world attempt. Last but not least, Bateaux.com is involved in the follow-up to this extraordinary challenge.
For Olivier Marchand and the VIVANT JV team, the idea is simple: to show that a well-prepared, highly-motivated amateur sailor can tackle a course usually reserved for professionals. And, at the same time, to open up a new way of telling the story of long-distance sailing.
To follow this project on instagram: vivant_jv
