Vendée Globe – Tests carried out on new mast for TechnoFirst-faceOcean

by Vendée Globe on 7 Oct 2016 Monday was a big day for Sébastien Destremau’s team. With her new mast stepped, TechnoFirst-faceOcean was able to have all the checks carried out, including the famous 90° test, which led to the previous mast snapping. This time, everything went smoothly.

“This time, it worked!” Sébastien Destremau had a huge smile on his face and we can understand why. With his team, the class rule checks and tests went without hitch on TechnoFirst-faceOcean. She is now stepped with her new mast, supplied by an anonymous donator to enable Sébastien to line up at the start of the Vendée Globe, on 6th November. One worry out of the way for the skipper from Toulon, remembering that the old mast broke in four pieces a month ago, during the first attempt at these checks. Since then, the sailing community has pulled together to respond to the serious damage, which could easily have dashed his hopes of competing in the Vendée Globe. “I got no fewer than eight offers after this bit of bad luck, which is amazing! We went for the one, which was closest to the ideal solution,” explained Sébastien Destremau.

Heading for Les Sables d’Olonne this weekend

The whole day was spent this Monday (3rd October) carrying out measurements and going through the tests required to obtain an IMOCA certificate, which is a document they must all obtain to have the right to line up at the start.

Sébastien Destremau explains, “We stepped the mast very early in the morning, carried out all the checks, including the famous 90° test and it was all good news. In particular we managed to save around 300 kilos, with the boat going from 9.3 tonnes to just under 9 tonnes. We had a margin more or less everywhere and were extremely confident that we would get the certificate. We should receive the paper in a few days, once the measurers have carried out their calculations.”

Late in the evening, after these checks, the mast was once again removed, “so we can make some minor adjustments, such as adjusting the length of the shrouds.” This procedure became necessary, as the mast was not built for this boat, so there were bound to be a few modifications required. Once these adjustments have been made, TechnoFirst-faceOcean will be fitted with her mast for the final time, on Thursday, and will start her delivery trip to Les Sables d’Olonne this weekend. “We are planning to set off at 1302hrs on Saturday to get used to that time (the Race begins at 1302hrs local time on 6th November), “joked Sébastien Destremau, “But depending on how long the final adjustments take, we may set of a few hours after that. In any case, it’s going to be this weekend.” This is already a huge victory for the skipper of TechnoFirst-faceOcean, who has planned a delivery trip in three stages –between Toulon and Gibraltar with the assistant, who is preparing the boat, then sailing solo between Gibraltar and Lisbon to get used to everything.”

The final stretch between Lisbon and Les Sables d’Olonne will be sailed by his shore team, while Sébastien drives up towards Vendée, feeling very relieved.