Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008 - (Page 12)

NEWS Francis Joyon: the clock is now ticking Nacira 6,50 : A new series Mini The Nacira Design Team has come up with a new series 6.50 this time. Designed in close collaboration with Corentin Douguet (winner of the Transat 6.50 in 2005), it will be built by the La Rochelle yard, Pixis. The goal: to offer a boat that is ready to race, fine-tuned down to the smallest detail. The hull offers a fine entry into the water and great upwind performances, a chine that can evolve for power and to enable her to surf without pitchpoling. The deck layout has been inspired by the latest prototypes: a circular track improves control of the square-topped mainsail, the outriggers keep the bowsprit in place under gennaker or during gybes, the solent trimming is in 3D. The coach-roof continues backward with a hood, allowing the solent to be angled significantly, while keeping a large volume inside. The structural fittings increase the ratio of rigidity/weight and make the life of the skipper that much easier, whether he is sitting down, lying down or moving weight around the boat. A single solent with two reefing lines replaces the classic pairing of the genoa/solent. This configuration offers the choice of an additional foresail (spinnaker –gennaker) and the spreaders wide open improve the rigidity of the sail. A new generation of series mini is appearing. We can’t wait to see the result out on the water. For more info: www.nacira-design.com ©J.M. Liot/DPPI/IDEC 2008 Figaro single-handed event: three legs, including one of 825 miles The Figaro event as presented by the race director, Jacques Caraës on the eve of the Paris Boat Show, will be quite exceptional. Just one foreign stopover (Vigo), no stopovers in Ireland or England and only three stages, so the race does not interfere with the Olympics. Nevertheless the final leg will be crazy, as it will be the longest in the race’s 39 year history: 825 miles between Cherbourg and Aber Wrac’h! With a great detour. As in 2007, the skippers – including Alain Gautier – will be unaware of their rivals’ positions. To be more precise, the start will take place in La Rochelle on Friday 25th July. Destination: Vigo, in Spain (465 miles). Jacques Caraës’s opinion: "a classic crossing of the Bay of Biscay, but with a rounding of Cape Finisterre and a finish, which may prove to be difficult if there is fog off Vigo. Watch out for the final third of the course." The second leg will be between Vigo and Cherbourg-Octeville (590 miles) where the fleet will be present from 4th to 8th August: "a totally open route, where they can choose how to get around Sein and the Four, to allow as many tactical plays as possible." Stage 3, to finish, will be the exceptional 825-mile run in this 39th Figaro single-handed event. "Two events in one, " said a smiling Jacques Caraës. They will have to head for the tip of Cornwall, then head up to the Isle of Man at 54°N Latitude between Ireland and Scotland before coming back down again towards Aber Wrac’h, which is due to welcome Michel Desjoyeaux’s successor around 14th August. "It will be very exciting with tactical plays, some great headlands to round off Wales and for the finish, the whole village will be joining in. There’s going to be an unforgettable welcome." When ISAF honours ocean racing For its hundredth birthday, ISAF created a Hall of Fame. Out of the first six to be honoured, four came from ocean racing (E.Tabarly, O.Stephens, E.McArthur, R. Knox-Johnston) and only two from Olympic classes (P.Elvström –who was also a winner in a Half-Tonner and the windsurfer Barbara Kendall). Thus, ISAF recognised that the Olympic classes only represent a small part of the sport. ISAF also announced the Olympic classes for 2012. No more Star: keel boats and match racing are now exclusively for the ladies. No more Tornado: no more racing multihulls (which are a vital element in light racing). All of the series are reserved for youngsters; it is true that all our medal winners aged forty or over (there was even a team member aged 70, who won the Olympics in 1900!) were surrounD. Charles ded by youngsters… Ocean Racing - december 2007 ©J. Vapillon/DPPI/Sodeb'o The maxi trimaran IDEC crossed the start in Brest on Friday 23rd November at 11h05’52’’ (CET). To beat Ellen MacArthur’s single-handed round the world record (71 days, 14h18’33’’), Francis Joyon must finish before Sunday 3rd February at 1h23’25’’. The seventy-day barrier is set therefore for a date that is easy to remember, the First of February. Setting sail in a NE’ly flow, which should increase to 25 then 30 knots, Joyon aimed at "reaching a steady trade wind and losing as little time as possible in comparison to Ellen during the first week, as she benefited from some exceptional conditions during this segment." The router Jean-Yves Bernot thought that IDEC could reasonably hope to reach the Equator "in just over a week, around eight days, which would be perfect." In the end, the planetary duel with Thomas Coville will not be taking place at the same time over the same course, as a leak in a hydraulic jack on Sodeb’O has forced Coville to push back his start to await a future weather opportunity. And we can’t blame Francis Joyon for setting sail right when we go to press with OceanRacing… http://www.nacira-design.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008

Cover
Edito
Contents
What they said
News
Portfolio - The news in the picture
Transat Jacques Vabre - Monohulls in power
In the words of the skipper - Michel Desjoyaux, A little bit more
Barcelona World Race - A couple sailing around the world
Imoca - Growth crisis in the Imoca class
Transat 6.5 - A whole series of records
Mini Class - Anatomy of a winner
Multihulls - What sort of trimarans tomorrow ?
Volvo Ocean Race - Second generation
Trials - Mach 45 : an unusual IRC
Match Racing - King Richard
Tactics - A good start
Portrait - Jacques Caraës
Lab - Tubular or wing mast ?
Forty years ago - Chichester, the lonely sea and the sky
Equipment - Shop window
New products - From the drawing board to the boatyard
Opinion - The mirage of worshipping technology

Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008