Route du Rhum - Yann Eliès ready to race on a multihull

by Vendee Globe on 18 Sep 2014

Yann Elies Yvan Zedda http://www.zedda.com.

A major figure in the Vendée Globe (*), Yann Eliès still intends to compete in the next edition of the non-stop solo round the world race. Meanwhile, he is earning his keep doing another little job, or rather a big one, as he is going to take the helm of the MOD70 trimaran Paprec-Recyclage in the Route du Rhum. The boat has been adapted to solo sailing and has just been relaunched.

Yann Eliès will be taking part in the next Route du Rhum in the Ultimate category, which is the class bringing together maxi multihulls, such as those sailed by Francis Joyon, Loïck Peyron, Yann Guichard, Sébastien Josse and Thomas Coville. This is no easy task (last year the pictures of this very same MOD70 capsizing were seen all around the world) and requires detailed preparation.

Paprec-Recyclage has just been put back in the water after a month in the yard, during which she was adapted to make it possible for her to be sailed by a solo sailor. 'This was a highly symbolic and moving moment,' said Yann Eliès, who can’t wait to sail away to achieve his qualification, which involves sailing 1000 miles alone on this boat. After that on this multihull displaying colours that are well known to anyone following the Vendée Globe (thanks to Jean-Pierre Dick), Yann will carry out an intense training schedule. He explained, 'There are sixty days to go to the start for me to prepare to ensure I’m in the best shape. This is a key moment, as I shall be sailing as much as I can during this period. I want Papre-Recyclage to be my best friend, so that together we form a potentially winning couple in my first Route du Rhum.'

The major modifications made to the boat involved making manoeuvres easier (deck layout modified to make it more efficient), achieving weight savings with the removal of all the systems, which are only needed by a crew, while ensuring the safety of the boat and the sailor. On top of that, the helm was moved in under the protective cover, and a second autopilot was installed, 'as well as an anti-capsize system, which eases the sheets if I’m not there, when the boat reaches a certain heel or pitch.'

(*) Everyone surely remembers his spectacular rescue in the Southern Ocean in the 2008-2009 Vendee Globe
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