Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - IMOCA skippers set for battle
by Leslie Greenhalgh on 31 Oct 2014
St Malo, France. 29 October 2014. IMOCA Ocean Master Press conference before 2014 Route du Rhum start. ThMartinez/Sea&Co
http://www.thmartinez.com
On Wednesday 29 October in Saint Malo (France), the nine IMOCA skippers preparing to battle out the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe met with the media, not only to report on the race but also to put into perspective the future of the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship class and its forthcoming big dates, the Barcelona World Race and the future race calendar.
Peter Bayer, Managing Director of OSM (Open Sports Management), started the evening off with an update of the projects underway and the international development prospects. Six new boats are currently under construction, and 17 projects will be operational in the immediate future since eight boats are planning to be at the start of the Barcelona World Race in Barcelona on 31 December, over and above the nine others at the start of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe.
For OSM, who are in charge of the commercialisation of the IMOCA Ocean Masters circuit, the immediate objectives are to give more visibility to the return transat from the Transat Jacques Vabre and to work on a single-handed transat in spring 2016.
However, to promote a race circuit, it has first to have a solid foundation. In this respect Jean Kerhoas, IMOCA Class President, emphasised how the recent Class transition (standardised keels and masts, but freedom to create appendages) respected the double concern of reduction of costs and the freedom to innovate.
It was then the skippers turn to present their ambitions, before everyone got together for a friendly drink.
Peter Bayer, OSM Managing Director: 'This Class has a real potential. All of us– skippers and organisers alike – agree on the will to internationalise the IMOCA Ocean Masters circuit. Some races, like the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, the Vendée Globe and the Barcelona World Race, make up our historic foundation. It’s now up to us to complete the programme and build up the World Championship we all dream of.'
Jean Kerhoas, IMOCA President: 'The role of the Class is to manage the rules, to follow technological evolutions and to ensure that the Rule is the fruit of a genuine collective reflection. The early indications on the new Rule seem to confirm we’re on the right track.'
Jérémie Beyou, Maître CoQ: 'My objective is to win the Route du Rhum of course, even if I know that the level of competition is going to be very high. I have two points of reference for this race: Vincent Riou and François Gabart.'
Vincent Riou, PRB: 'We decided to go with the new Rule, with the result that our boat is slightly less powerful, but lighter in weight. What we lose on the one hand, we gain on the other. Which seems to prove that the modifications to the Rule are fair from a sporting point of view.'
Armel Tripon, For Humble Heroes: 'The name of the boat was chosen by those associated with the project. I’m still in the learning process. My main objective is to finish the race.'
François Gabart, MACIF: 'It’s true that I’ve been quite successful in my first races so far: Transat B2B, Vendée Globe… So why not carry on the series with the Route du Rhum? I’m not the only favourite in this race and I can only accept the label if it’s shared.'
Marc Guillemot, Safran: 'This will be my fifth Route du Rhum and it’s always a pleasure to be at the start. This boat and I have a long history together and have played our part in paving the way for new generation boats.'
Tanguy de Lamotte, Initiatives Cœur: 'I’ll be on a good boat with a real potential. I’m seeking to be in top shape physically by doing lots of outdoor sports.'
Louis Burton, Bureau Vallée: 'As an ex-Parisian, I’ve been amazed by the welcome I’ve had all over Brittany, whether in Port-la-Forêt, Lorient or here. For someone like me who just loves competition, sailing on these boats is just a dream.'
Alessandro Di Benedetto, Team Plastique – AFM Téléthon: 'Every race is an adventure and you have to try and tell the stories that make our followers dream. Setting my boat as well as possible and getting to Guadeloupe as fast as possible are my objectives.'
Bertrand de Broc, Votre Nom autour du Monde: 'I kept the name of the boat because a Transat is a bit like the beginning of a round the world. My boat will take part in the Barcelona World Race after the Route du Rhum which is a great way to combine our Ocean IMOCA
www.routedurhum.com" target="_blank">Event website
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/128401