Transat Jacques Vabre: five podium places for CDK Technologies
by CDK Technologies 1 Dec 2021 06:50 PST
Transat Jacques Vabre © Jean-Louis Carli / Alea
For its 15th edition, the Transat Jacques Vabre sailed from Normandy to Martinique for the first time in its history.
A truly unique route, it comprised a series of course marks never before used in transatlantic races, including the archipelagos of Trindade and Martim Vaz for the Ultimes and Fernando de Noronha for the Ocean Fiftys and IMOCAs. The result was an event that was as long as it was demanding.
The race proved to be both testing and complex but ultimately those boats built at CDK Technologies carried off no fewer than five podium places, evidence that the experience and expertise of the Breton yard doesn't lie. Quite the contrary. Indeed, the specialist in prototype yacht construction, which has been amassing a string of successes in the offshore racing domain for over 35 years, is continuing to go from strength to strength in the most prestigious events thanks to its unique know-how and the unfailing commitment of all its associates.
Ultime: Fresh out of the box and already at the top of their game
Respectively launched in July and April of this year, SVR - Lazartigue and Banque Populaire XI took the gamble of lining up for the start of the race in record time. The transatlantic passage was the perfect opportunity for their skippers to discover and gauge the promising potential of their machines.
Finishing less than nine hours after the first boat, the two maxi trimarans demonstrated that even though there had been precious little time to iron out any teething issues, they were capable of keeping pace outstandingly well. The former managed to complete the 7,800 miles of the course without mishap despite being extremely young, confirming the pertinence of the choices made by her skipper and her architect in a break from current technologies, as well as all the expertise of the CDK Technologies yard, which can pride itself on having manufactured the key parts of the platform, namely the floats, the crossbeams and the foils. The second showed that her lifting surfaces and foils, which are considerably larger than the previous generation boats, are able to perfectly integrate the constraints of flight at top speed. CDK Technologies congratulates itself on having played an integral part in the remarkable reliability of the two latest additions to the class, which now boast an excellent base from which to develop and secure future victories...
Ocean Fifty: Everything comes to he who waits
The battle was multisided in the Ocean Fifty fleet too. This was evidenced by the fact that the top three boats arrived in Fort-de-France within four hours of one another. Pulling off a Grand Slam in the first season of the Pro Sailing Tour this year having won the various episodes played out in Brest, La Rochelle and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria and then the final sprint between Toulon and Brest, Leyton (ex Ciela Village 2) helmed by Sam Goodchild and Aymeric Chappellier bagged a stellar third place. A VPLP design built by CDK Technologies and launched in 2017, this was her first podium place in a major event.
IMOCA: Virtually a full house!
The IMOCA fleet also enjoyed a particularly refined match, especially between the top trio. For the Breton yard it was virtually a full house with four boats in the Top 5 and six in the Top 10. Apivia, winner of the last edition of the event in 2019, showed off her power and sturdiness to full advantage by finishing second. It was a similar scenario for Charal, third two years ago and on the podium again this year. Charlie Dalin and Jérémie Beyou paid tribute to the stunning performance of their machines and it is evident how much confidence they have in the yard because, together with Yannick Bestaven, winner of the last edition of the Vendée Globe, they have entrusted the construction of their next boats to the Brittany-based firm. The company's reputation for expertise is clearly a given then because Thomas Ruyant, the grand champion of this 15th Transat Jacques Vabre, has also already announced that he's chosen CDK Technologies to take care of the build of his next 60-footer!