Vendee Globe - Raphaël Dinelli’s alternative project

by Vendee Globe on 15 Dec 2011 He came in tenth in the 2010 Vendee Globe onboard a boat that had been transformed into a floating lab to test sailing without the use of fossil fuels, Raphael Dinelli seeks to continue this work by competing in the upcoming edition of the non-stop solo round the world race. The project involves taking advantage of the know-how of his 'Ocean Vital' research foundation to develop and truly clean sailing boat.

Raphaël Dinelli is on his way to the 2012 Vendée Globe. Making the most of his skills as a sailor and expert researcher in the area of renewable energy, Raphaël is looking for partners to set up 'a racing boat that is 100% solar powered.'

The energy on this boat will be supplied by a set of extremely efficient photovoltaic panels developed by the Océan Vital Foundation that he set up back in 2007 and where he currently works as research director.

Committed to sustainable development and environmental protection via this foundation, which has been awarded charitable status since April 2007, Raphaël wishes therefore to continue along the lines of what he set out to do in the last two editions of the Vendée Globe.

After testing a solar panel system in the 2004 race – which meant that he only used 20% of the fuel taken on board after four months of sailing –, he set off in 2008 aboard the 60-foot boat, Océan Vital I, the first boat to sail around the world without using any fossil fuel at all.

An accomplished sailor, who has sailed around the world four times, including three in the Vendée Globe, Raphaël Dinelli says he has clearly seen the serious consequences of climate change – melting ice, pollution and the acidification of the oceans,... which explains his desire to continue to work on this project of developing alternative energy sources on board a boat that has been improved.

'In the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe, I had quite a few problems with the solar panels, and the wind turbine placed vertically was a handicap when carrying out manoeuvres,' he admits. 'If I make it to the start in 2012, I hope to take advantage of the progress that has been made in terms of the reliability and performance of renewable energy sources in order to be entirely self-sufficient and therefore be able to concentrate fully on sailing the boat.'

The sailor from Arcachon is convinced that the themes he defends, are strong values, which bring people together and thus offer a very good return on investment for any partners, who are ready to join him in this research and development programme. He intends to buy an IMOCA monohull that was built for the last Vendée Globe and is looking at a four-year programme, with the major races in the IMOCA calendar scheduled: the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe, of course, but also the 2014 Route du Rhum and the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre. Overall, this would imply an annual budget of 1.5 million euros. Aware that time is pressing and keen on the idea of experiencing the joys of ocean racing again, Raphaël Dinelli is working hard to see this project through. 'I changed my career path thanks to the Océan Vital Foundation,' he said.

'But at the age of 43 with my list of achievements, I believe I’m quite capable of taking part again in the Vendée Globe. Without aiming to win it, but rather to be able to tell a different story, by stressing what I have on my mind and proving that it is possible to develop innovative technologies on a competitive boat.'

www.vendeeglobe.org