Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008 - (Page 37)

Where is the Imoca class heading? The announcement concerning the official calendar of events for 2009-2012 of the most dynamic class there is today, the Vendée Globe 60-foot boats, has created some violent reactions from racers, organisers and sponsors… It’s over for the Transat Jacques Vabre, and also the Velux Five Oceans! Instead there is the Barcelona World Race and a Round Europe race will also appear. We try to get a clearer view of what has happened. racing calendar thus disappear. The main arguments put forward by the Imoca class, presented by Luc Talbourdet, are the following: "First of all, we wanted to structure the calendar around a round the world race every other year, and then, we needed to deal with the internationalisation of the class (27 boats including 16 French projects) and finally we wanted to give priority to races with 100% Imoca boats taking part, making it easier for the general public and the media to understand." Some racers and organisers found the explanation somewhat lacking. For example, how could we say that the Velux Five Oceans was not international enough, as Velux just renewed its financial partnership deal. At the same time, it seems contradictory to kick out the Transat Jacques Vabre, but not the Route du Rhum, which is also an open race, so is no clearer than the Transat Jacques Vabre, as exactly the same categories of boat take part in each event. "However, the Rhum is a must," explained Luc Talbourdet, suggesting therefore that the Jacques Vabre was not. At this very moment, 18 Imoca monohulls are taking part in the former Coffee Route, against nine in the first edition of the Barcelona World Race. ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS Whilst it may be preferable to have to deal with growth rather than a crisis, this announcement concerning the schedule has raised a lot of questions. Isn’t the Imoca in the process of signing the death warrant for two major races and at the same time its own presence in open races? Are the problems thrown up in recent editions of these races – such as the lack of media interest for the monohulls after the arrival of the multihulls in the Rhum and the "cutting in half of the race bonuses in the Jacques Vabre" (according to the Imoca) the real reasons that remain unstated behind these hasty decisions? Does the fact that Mark Turner is ©V. Curutchet/DPPI/Barcelona World Race Paris, Wednesday 10th October 2007. As the Vendée Globe presentation press conference was taking place, Luc Talbourdet, President of the Imoca class announced the official race programme for 2009-2012. Neither the Velux Five Oceans –the former The facts BOC Challenge- nor the Transat Jacques Vabre 2009 and 2011 are included in the schedule! On the other hand, there is the idea of a round the world voyage every two years – in other words the Barcelona World Race alternating with the Vendée Globe – and the setting up of a Round Europe Race every two years also. Two of the most legendary races on the on the Imoca committee and at the same time organiser of races like the Barcelona World Race have a direct effect on the decision concerning this calendar, which marks a cut-off point with the past and instates the Barcelona as a must-race event? Were the boats’ sponsors consulted adequately, as it should not be forgotten that without them this sport would not exist? Some voices and not the least insignificant in ocean racing circles have been heard in this debate. Pen Duick, the organiser of the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum, invited racers to think about what was happening in a letter sent by its director, Pierre Bojic, who pointed out that racers will always be welcome to take part. While Jérémie Beyou sails in races exclusively reserved for the Imoca boats, he too wonders whether he will feel like doing a round the world voyage every other year and if his sponsor (Delta Dore) will be able to stick with him if this happens. Gérard Petipas, a major race organiser for many years, commented: "Threats of not taking part in races were something I had to deal with for twenty years and each time in the end, everyone turned up at the start." Interviewed in Le Havre, Kito de Pavant questions both the content and the way it was presented: "For me there is no such thing as an Imoca calendar! It must be approved by a general meeting, and so for the moment it is simply a proposal. We need to get around the table to discuss things calmly, leaving the door open to organisers and sponsors, of which there are after all not such a great number. We need to keep these Open races going, as they are major sailing events. I believe that things are moving too quickly and that is dangerous." Bernard Stamm, twice winner of Around Alone and the Velux Five Oceans, is even more scathing and dares to say out loud what others have been suggesting: "My sponsor was in the hall, when this announcement was made and he almost walked out. The Velux, the BOC challenge, is a legendary race, Ocean Racing - december 2007

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