Harken Youth International Match Racing Championships: Hazard (RNZYS) and Griffin (CYCA) through to Finals

Image copyright RNZYS media.

by Kelly Gilkison

David Hazard representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron continued his winning streak on the Auckland Harbour this afternoon beating his semi final opponent 2 wins to 1.

Hazard and crew won the first race over Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s Jordan Reece by 9 seconds, but Reece came back in the next, when Hazard got a DNF (Did Not finish) for sailing to the wrong top mark. In the final deciding race Hazard sailed clean and clear to take the win by 21 seconds and secure his place in the 2011 Harken Youth International Match Racing Championships finals.

Hazard commented about rounding the wrong top mark in race two. “We had a bit of a shocker” he laughs nervously, “We need to check the flags at the start. Apart from that we felt we were pretty fast overall”.

In the final race Hazard’s mainsheet hand Rawiri Geddes missed the hiking strap and fell in the water “lucky Rawiri was holding the mainsheet and managed to get himself back onboard pretty quick” he smiles with relief on his face.


Image copyright RNZYS media.

In the other semi final Jay Griffin representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australian beat his opponent Josh Porebski in the first nail-bitter by just 1 second. Wellington’s Porebski fought hard in the next to win by a very comfortable 21 second margin. Then in another nail-bitter between this well matched duo Griffin grabbed another important win by just 5 seconds and now takes on Hazard in tomorrows first to win three races finals series.

Griffin, who is a second year Architectural student commented on his day “We got the crew work sorted today, but it was quite a tough day, weather wise, the Race committee did a really good job. We had clean starts which was good. We are confident going into tomorrow and looking forward to a good day.”

This leaves Porebski and Reece in the petit final, which is first to win two races. Chief Umpire Roger Purdy reported on the two Red Flag on-water hearings from both semi finals. “Both semi-finals had a wind shift of from 250 – 180 degrees, but with no disadvantage to either party in the match both were dismissed”.

Many of the teams fly to Wellington on Wednesday to compete in the CentrePort International Youth Match Racing Championships held at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. Griffin also pointed out this will be his trimmer, Henry Kernot’s fifth regatta in a row!


Teams with the AC45. Image copyright RNZYS media.

The teams, umpires and race management enjoyed a great morning at the ACRM base watching the ACRM team put the new AC45 together which Squadron Member and ACRM On-water Operations Director Harold Bennett organised. The team was thrilled to have the opportunity to have a look at the new AC45s, what a great way to spend the morning!

In the minor placings sail offs Codie Banks (RNZYS) beat Italian Valerio Galati 2 – nil to take 5th place overall and Adam Middleton (RPNYC) beat Stephanie Doyle (RPAYC) 2 – nil to take 7th place overall.

The final and petit final begin tomorrow (Tuesday 15 February 2011) at approx 1100hrs. There is fantastic spectator viewing along the Westhaven Marina seawall.


Teams with the AC45. Image copyright RNZYS media.

Semi-Final One (Hazard chose to sail against Reece)
Flight One
Hazard beat Reece by 9s
Flight Two
Reece beat Hazard DNF
Flight Three
Hazard beat Reece by 21s

Semi-Final Two
Flight One
Griffin beat Porebski by 1s
Flight Two
Porebski beat Griffin by 21s
Flight Three
Griffin beat Porebski by 5s

5th place sail off
Flight One
Banks beat Galati by 12s
Flight Two
Banks beat Galati by 30s

7th place sail off
Flight One
Middleton beat Doyle by 8s
Flight Two
Middleton beat Doyle DNF

Schedule for Final Day
Final
Hazard v Griffin

Petit-Final
Porebski v Reece

Final Results
5th Codie Banks, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
6th Valerio Galati, Lega Navale Italiana Trani
7th Adam Middleton, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club
8th Stephanie Doyle, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

RNZYS

BWR: Virbac Paprec 3 and Jean-Pierre Dick enter the Vendée Globe

Winning the Holy Grail


Jean-Pierre Dick: the first sailor signed up for the 2012-13 Vendée Globe. Image copyright Jean-Pierre Dick.

by Anne-Charlotte Meyer

Virbac-Paprec 3 and Jean-Pierre Dick are the first pre-registered in the Vendée Globe 2012. This may appear trivial today, while they are racing the Barcelona World Race, but it isn’t, since this race is a major objective for the skipper from the French Riviera. In 2002, he changed his life to take part in what he refers to as his “personal big bang”. After taking part twice in 2004* and in 2008*, he is off again to try and win this Holy Grail in 2012.

“The Vendée Globe means a lot to me. It is part of my life. I chose to change my life to take part in this race. After taking part twice, I’m hooked and now I want to win. Since 2002, together with my team and partners, we have put a lot of energy into winning this Holy Grail of races. Clearly, the next race is important, since, in principle, it will be my last. I am trying to make sure that I have all the cards on my side in trying to achieve my objective. It is for this reason that I am taking part in the Barcelona World Race. It is excellent preparation for the Vendée Globe. Those who are not taking part will not have sailed in the Great South two years before!” explains Jean-Pierre Dick, contacted by phone south of Tasmania.

*6th
**Abandon in the Pacific Ocean, when he was in the lead ahead of Michel Desjoyeaux

In French:

La conquête du Graal


Jean-Pierre Dick holds up the paper to show that he is the first skipper signed up for the 2012-13 Vendée Globe. Image copyright Jean-Pierre Dick.

Virbac−Paprec 3 et Jean−Pierre Dick sont les premiers préinscrits au Vendée Globe 2012. Cest peut−être anecdotique aujourdhui alors quils mènent la Barcelona World Race. Mais cela ne lest pas, tant cette course est un objectif majeur pour le skipper azuréen. En 2002, il a changé de vie pour y participer, son « big bang personnel » comme il le précise. Après deux participations en 2004* et en 2008**, il repart à la conquête du Graal en 2012.

« Le Vendée Globe, cest beaucoup de choses pour moi. Cest une partie de ma vie. Jai choisi de changer de vie pour participer à cette course. Après deux participations, je me suis pris au jeu et maintenant jai envie de le gagner. Depuis 2002, avec mon équipe et mes partenaires, nous avons mis beaucoup dénergie pour cette conquête du Graal. Clairement, la prochaine édition est importante car ce sera, à priori, ma dernière. Jessaye de mettre tous les atouts de mon côté pour tenter datteindre mon objectif. Cest pour cela que je participe à la Barcelona World Race. Cest une excellente préparation pour le Vendée Globe. Ceux qui ne la font pas, ne seront pas allés dans le grand sud deux ans avant ! » explique Jean−Pierre Dick, joint au téléphone au sud de la Tasmanie.

*2004 : 6ème
**2008 : Abandon dans lOcéan Pacifique alors quil était en tête de la course devant Michel Desjoyeaux

Virbac Paprec 3
Vendée Globe

BWR: Iker and Xabi mend the Daggerboard on Mapfre

Iker: "Five days ago we had a collision with an object and we broke a daggerboard" and lost the lower 1.5 metres of the port daggerboard


Iker and Xabi repair the daggerboard on Mapfre. Image copyright Mapfre.

by Iker Martinez

Here we are, attempting to get through the Australian Barrier, to be able then go on to centre our focus on New Zealand.

There's a squall moving in from behind that we will have a hard time avoiding, and it's a big one, so we'll be treading carefully.

We're still battling with “Estrella Damm” a few miles behind. Alex and Pepe are doing really well and pushing forward at a steady pace.


Iker and Xabi repair the daggerboard on Mapfre. Image copyright Mapfre.

It's been impossible for us to push our speed up over the past few days and we've been forced to watch them catch up consistently.

The fact is that five days ago we had a collision with an object. We've had a few collisions with no consequences, but this time we broke a daggerboard.

We were sailing to starboard, first reaching and then close hauled to get through the ice gate, and we realised that a chunk of a daggerboard was missing.

There was nothing we could do at that point. It was better to carry on sailing with a piece of the daggerboard than to remove it, as we had to get through the gate, but we had already started losing ground with those behind.

From the gate onwards we got some breeze from behind and so were able to remove the daggerboard, although that was not ideal, as it meant sailing with a hole in the hull, although perhaps better than sailing with the damaged part in the water.

At first sight it looked like it was just the tip that had been damaged, a metre, or a metre and a half. It was a breakage where the bow end was more damaged and the main structure had withstood the impact better, with the deepest part now the rudder stock , totally uncovered.

What a mess! What could we do? Without a daggerboard you can survive without dropping back too much as far as Cape Horn, but after that, forget it.

Did we make a pit-stop in New Zealand or should we try to fix it on board? We were not even considering the first option, so off we set with repairs!

That's easier said than done on board. Firstly handling a part like this which weighs 100 kg and is over four metres long, whilst two of us are sailing is already tough, so we managed to remove it and propped it up to the windward side to work on it.


Iker and Xabi repair the daggerboard on Mapfre. Image copyright Mapfre.

We started by attempting to rebuild as much of the daggerboard as we could, to lose as little of it as possible. We used foam that we had in the driving seat for bow reconstruction to make the most of the deepest part of the stock (the transverse axle). The stern area had fared better.

We then had to fill the hole, because the daggerboard is hollow, so we had to close of the end. We then had to give it the most hydrodynamic shape we could, although it is almost impossible to get the original shape, which would have been ideal.

This all happened quite quickly, in just a couple of days from the collision, with very little sleep (because the only place you can scrape some time from with everything else that needs doing on board is sleeping time). The daggerboard looked better, then we had to laminate, which is a whole other story in itself.

At that point the boat was full of stuff everywhere: sandpaper, resin, glues, scraps of material... a mess! Exactly the kind of state you never want to see a boat in, and of course, the entry behind was moving closer, as our attentions were focussed elsewhere!

We couldn't move the daggerboard, so we laminated on the spot. We laminated as best we could, but you can imagine... the wet and damp, the jolts around, the wind, 'hold on, the material's moved'...etc.

So we finished and decided to cover the work area over as much as possible so that it wouldn't get wet and to see if it would dry by the next morning. That night it was five degrees outside and there were 20 knots blowing. We began to pinch at the bow and by the morning the daggerboard was soaked... the resin hadn't taken at all – a mess!


Drying the daggerboard on Mapfre. Image copyright Mapfre.

That's when we decided to move the daggerboard as best we could to move it close to the cabin hatch to try to protect it there, but we were already rushing as we were sailing port side and in just a day and half we'd be gybing again at the Australian Barrier and we'd get strong winds again, so we'd have to get it in place before then, or it would be impossible after that.

We managed to move it, with a few bashes along the way and we got the tip inside the boat, but we only gained in terms of damp. It was ten degrees inside the boat at night. It wasn't enough, so we made a small 'oven' and using the boat engine we managed to improve things somewhat.

We only had half a day left and the resin hadn't taken properly across the whole outside. We had to remove some material patches that hadn't stuck properly, but other parts looked good so we began to work on the shape using different putties.

Of course, where we needed five pots of filler, we only had one; so spreading it out as thinly as we could we managed to make it look a lot better than it had done. Night came and the putty still wouldn't set – what desperation! So we started up the engine again and made an oven and all the other funny stuff we'd been trying, but the clock was ticking and “Estrella Damm” was moving forward and getting very close.

We eventually got the part of the daggerboard out from inside the boat, but we had to gybe again because we were going into the Australian Barrier.

We gybed and got 25 knots straight away... Impossible to get the daggerboard in place with all the water on deck! Too dangerous, we could knock ourselves, so we secured it as best we could and we carried on sailing, with the hole in the water (the daggerboard case).

We were able to look at the wind forecasts and we saw that it was likely the wind wouldn't drop until New Zealand, which would mean eight days and a big squall to get through.


Mapfre. Image copyright Maria Muina/Barcelona World Race.

We didn't want to imagine getting through a squall with the daggerboard tied down to the deck. If it came loose or broke free from the ropes with the force of the water, we may lose it and it may damage other parts of the boat, being such a big part, so we decided to try to put it in place as soon as the wind dropped below 20 knots. We prepared everything, hung the daggerboard from a halyard and in a calmer spot we slowed the boat right down and got down to it.

The operation went quite well and we had the daggerboard in position – what satisfaction! We were both exhausted, dead on our feet, drained and that's when we got the report that “Estrella Damm” was just over 10 miles to our stern. We'd managed to carry out the repairs without them overtaking us, so we were over the moon! It was like going a set up!

Now we could get back to the sailing. First we had to recover ourselves. After that we could get the boat back in order and cleaned up, as it was in total chaos, and then we could get back to racing and back to working on building on the gaps with our rivals.

It's now been 24 hours since we finished the operation and we've been able to get some sleep. The boat's cleaner and we've been able to get back in the race. We are fighting with Alex and Pepe, with a steady gap, although we still need a few days to recover, eating and sleeping well. We must get ourselves back in shape for the big storm, due in 48 hours.

The daggerboard isn't the same as it was before, but it's not in bad shape. For us it's a real triumph to have been able to carry out the repairs on board and now we need to step on the gas because Alex and Pepe are giving it all they've got to get past us, which is normal.

So, as you can all see... life's certainly not dull on “MAPFRE”!

I'm off back outside as Xabi's driving and I need to take over as it's his turn to rest, and we need to recover from the exhaustion of recent days.

Video explanation in Spanish as to how the daggerboard was repaired:


Audio in Spanish from the video with Iker Martinez, explaining what happened with the port daggerboard on Mapfre

Mapfre
Barcelona World Race

America's Cup: Venezia Challenge Chooses the Yacht Club Canottieri Marsala

by Geronimo Emili

Venezia Challenge signs an agreement to challenge for the 34th America’s Cup with the historic Sicilian club.

It will be the Canottieri Marsala Club to bring Venezia Challenge to San Francisco to participate in the 34th edition of the world's most important sailing competition. A selection process lasting several months was carried out to identify the most appropriate Italian yacht club out of several candidates. Canottieri Marsala proved to be the ideal partner, with its sporting soul and depth of skills.

The Venezia Challenge project has the objective of showcasing and communicating Italian excellence and style throughout the world. The choice of Marsala completes an important circle: the name of Venezia has been chosen because it best transmits the charm of Italy. Canottieri Marsala geographically completes a perimeter that encompasses the whole Italian territory. The Sicilian club is the ultimate expression of Italian youth sailing, fully in concert with the Youth America's Cup concept - the new competition for young sailors that will be organised within the framework of AC34, strongly advocated by Russell Coutts to provide a gateway for new recruits into the top level of sailing.

Carlo Magna, President and Co-Founder of Venezia Challenge, is the Lombard businessman who, together with Emanuela Pulcino, has designed and developed the project:
"We are very enthusiastic about the choice we have made. It was difficult to find a Yacht Club capable of joining us in such a complex project and able to fully represent the idea of a national team involving all the Italian regions, from north to south. Canottieri Marsala takes away any regional connotation that might have been gleaned from the name we've chosen. Venezia Challenge is an Italian project aiming to promote worldwide, through events at regattas, Italian SMEs and Italian excellence. "

Maurizio Albertini, President of C! anottier i Marsala declares:
"Being part of this ambitious project is a testament to the good that has been done in over sixty years in the sport. Our club are happy to share this success with the whole city and see the name of Marsala in the greatest sailing event in the world. For our part, having no direct involvement in the sports management team, we wish to use this opportunity to showcase, once again, the beauties of our territory. In the year of celebrations for the anniversary of the Unification of Italy, a project signed Venezia and Marsala is, I think, a striking example of 'UNITY' "-

ITALIAN VERSION

VENEZIA CHALLENGE SCEGLIE LA “CANOTTIERI MARSALA”

Siglato l’accordo con lo storico circolo siciliano per depositare la sfida

Sarà la Società Canottieri Marsala a portare Venezia Challenge a San Francisco per partecipare all’edizione numero 34 della sfida velica più importante del mondo, l’America’s Cup. Dopo diversi mesi di selezione tra diversi YC italiani per individuare quello più adeguato, “Canottieri Marsala” si è dimostrato il miglior partner, sia per la sua anima profondamente sportiva che per capacità tecniche.

Il progetto Venezia Challenge ruota intorno all’obiettivo di diffondere le eccellenze e lo stile italiano nel mondo e con la scelta di Marsala trova una completezza: il nome Venezia è stato individuato perché è quello che meglio trasmette il fascino italiano e, la Canottieri Marsala, oltre a completare un perimetro che abbraccia tutto il territorio italiano, è la massima espressione della vela giovanile italiana, in piena coerenza con Youth America’s Cup , il trofeo riservato a giovani velisti che per la prima volta sarà organizzato all’interno della cornice AC34, fortemente voluto da Russell Coutts per dare spazio alle nuove leve.

Dichiara Carlo Magna, Presidente di Venezia Challenge, l’imprenditore lombardo che, assieme a Emanuela Pulcino ha ideato e sviluppato il progetto:
“Noi siamo davvero entusiati della scelta che abbiamo fatto. Era difficile trovare un YC capace di accompagnarci in un progetto così complesso e soprattutto che potesse rappresentare compiutamente l’idea di un team nazionale in grado di coinvolgere tutte le regioni italiane, da nord a sud. La Canottieri Marsala allontana la nostra imbarcazione da una connotazione regionale, pericolo reale considerato il nome che abbiamo scelto. Venezia Challenge è un progetto italiano che intende promuovere nel mondo, attraverso attività collaterali alle regate, le PMI e l’eccellenza italiana”.

Dichiara Maurizio Albertini, Presidente della Società Canottieri Marsala:
“Far parte di questo ambizioso progetto è un riconoscimento a quanto di positivo è stato fatto nel corso di oltre sessant’anni di attività sportiva dal nostro Circolo e sono felice di condividere questo successo con tutta la città e vedere il nome di Marsala presente nella più grande manifestazione di vela al mondo. Da parte nostra, non avendo un coinvolgimento diretto nella gestione sportiva del team, dovremo essere bravi a sfruttare quest’occasione per mostrare, ancora una volta, a tutti le bellezze del nostro territorio. Nell’anno delle ricorrenze per l’anniversario dell’Unità d’Italia, un progetto firmato da Venezia e Marsala mi sembra che sia un esempio eclatante di “UNITA’”.

Venezia Challenge
America's Cup

America's Cup: Energy Team, Official Challenger for the 34th America's Cup

Bruno Peyron - Philippe Court (PDT YCF) - Richard Worth (CEO Americas Cup Race Management). Image © Franck Faugere / DPPI / Energy Team.

by Pierre Giboire

Launched and run by Loïck and Bruno Peyron, this challenge is backed by the prestigious Yacht Club de France. The construction of the first AC72 multihull will begin at the Multiplast yard in Vannes on the 1st September.

Within a month of the official announcement last September that the America’s Cup was to be raced aboard multihulls,the Peyron brothers announced that they wanted to bringFrench know-how together to set up a Challenge to attemptto win the prestigious trophy. That is exactly what they have now achieved.

Energy Team, the new French challenge set up around Bruno and Loïck Peyron, has been officially registered for the 34th America’s Cup since 27th January 2011. It is the sixth Challenger aiming to grab the silver ewer.

Energy Team backed by the Yacht Club de France

The America’s Cup has always been a challenge between yacht clubs. Loïck and Bruno Peyron will be benefiting from some prestigious support, as it is the Yacht Club de France, which is taking the Energy Team challenge to the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco. Energy Team will have everything going for them to defend French hopes, and aimsto be one of the most competitive Challengers starting at theLouis Vuitton Cup events. Energy Team’s ambition is to do all it can to take part in the next two editions and to win the America’s Cup. Bruno Peyron is the project’s general manager, Loïck the official skipper of the boats, will also be in charge of the Design Team.

The AC72 to be built at Multiplast

To fulfil this ambition, Energy Team has signed an exclusive partnership with Multiplast, the boatyard based in Vannes (Brittany), which is one of the international references in the world of multihull construction (Orange I and II, Groupama 3). The Multiplast yard will be reserved for Energy Team. The construction of the first AC72 catamaran will begin on 1st September with her launch planned for April 2012. Yann Penfornis, managing director of the yard, will be coordinating the AC 72 design and construction teams, under the supervision of Loïck Peyron.

The first AC 45, the little sister to the AC 72, will be delivered to Energy Team in March 2011, so they may begin training in Auckland.

Training in 17 multihulls

To train and then to race, Energy Team will have at its disposal an impressive fleet of multihulls of all sizes, with seventeen in all available to them: four Class A boats, four F18s, a D35, an X40, a G-Class (the former Orange II), twoAC45s and two AC72s... plus four "F25s", which are a 1/3 scale model of the AC72s, which will be used for the America's Cup.

The Energy Team base, the nerve centre of the project, will be set up on the Atlantic coast of France. It will include three centres: one in Vannes, the Multiplast yard, which will be the construction and technological development base; one in Lorient, which will be dedicated to the AC72 and G-Class catamarans; and finally one in La Baule, which will both bethe main training centre for the squad and the operations centre for all the work with partners and the media.

Core members of the team

The core members of the Racing Team are already in place and bring together a wealth of experience in four major areas that are vital for performance. The core members so far appointed include the following:

Loïck Peyron, skipper of the AC45 and AC72: 6 times F60 world champion, 8 times F28 Trophy Champion winner,


Bruno Peyron - Energy Team. Image © Franck Faugere / DPPI / Energy Team.

Bruno Peyron: 8 times world ocean records champion, skipper of the G Class, which will be the ambassador for Energy Team,

Yann Guichard: helmsman with Loïck Peyron : Extreme 40 world number 2, Member of the French Olympic team,

Thierry Fouchier: performance team, the only Frenchman to have won the America’s Cup with BMW Oracle Racing aboard which he was the wing sail trimmer.

Jean-Christophe Mourniac: performance team, member of the French Olympic team, one of the world’s top 5 Tornado and F18 racers over the past ten years.

Yves Loday: coach for young talent. Former member of the French Olympic team, he was Tornado gold medallist in Barcelona in 1992. He will be joining the team to prepare the "Youth America's Cup" that the American Defender islaunching.

The executive committee in place

Within the executive committee of Energy Team set up around Loïck and Bruno Peyron, we can find such influential members as Philippe Court, President and Gérard Petipas, Vice-President of the Yacht Club de France, but also various personalities, whose expertise and skills can only be beneficial, from a strategic as well as a marketing, business and legal perspective. François Château, President of the Salans international law firm (in charge of the legal aspects of the project), Erik Maris, from the Messier Maris consulting agency and Thierry Reboul, President of the event management agency Ubibene, which will be taking care of the marketing strategy and partnership packages.

Key dates

•26th October 2010 : 1st announcement made by Loïck and Bruno Peyron
•27th January 2011 : The Yacht Club de France becomes the official Yacht Club for the ENERGY TEAM challenge
•27th January 2011 : ENERGY TEAM, 6th official challenger
•March 2011 : Official closing date for registrations
•March 2011 : Launch of the first Energy Team AC45
•June 2011 : Start of the AC World Series
•April 2012 : Launch of the first Energy Team AC72
•13th July to 1st September 2013 : San Francisco, Louis Vuitton Cup
•7th to 22nd September 2013 : San Francisco, final match

Quotes:

Philippe Court, President of the Yacht Club de France: “...after attempting without success to bring together the two potential teams that have declared themselves, it seemed to us not just the normal thing to do, but a necessity that the YCF and its board support Bruno and Loick Peyron’s project to take a challenge to the Golden Gate Yacht Club by becoming Official Challenger for the 34th America’s Cup. It was normal because with the new format for the America’s Cup, Bruno and Loick’s list of achievements in multihull racing, a real French speciality, confirms their place, as well as their technical and managerial skills, making these two exceptional sailors the best candidates for a French attempt in the Cup. It is a necessity as it fits in perfectly with the mission of the YCF to take part in any attempt, where France (finally) has a serious chance of seizing victory in the America’s Cup, after taking part in every edition since 1970.”

Russell Coutts, CEO, ORACLE Racing: “It’s fantastic that we’ve got another team in the America’s Cup and what should be a very competitive one. Obviously Loïck and Bruno Peyron have a lot of multihull experience and they know how to campaign these boats and Loïck was very involved in the last America’s Cup. So I think it’s fantastic that they are in this. I know they have been wanting to get into this and it’s great to see they have lodged their entry.”

Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority: "The 34th America’s Cup will feature the world’s best sailors on the fastest boats and with this in mind we are pleased to welcome the Yacht Club de France and its Energy Team, which features sailors who are well-known for their strength and experience in multihull sailing.”

The Yacht Club de France

Founded on 15th June 1867 under the patronage of Emperor Napoleon III, it is one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in France. Among its members, it has included such famous people as Jules Verne, Virginie Hériot, Alain Gerbault, Commander Charcot, Marin-Marie and more recently Eric Tabarly.

In French:

Energy Team est officiellement Challenger pour la 34e America's Cup

Initié et emmené par Loïck et Bruno Peyron, ce Défi est porté par le prestigieux Yacht Club de France. La construction du premier multicoque AC72 sera lancée au chantier Multiplast de Vannes à partir du 1er septembre prochain.

A peine un mois après l'annonce officielle du passage de la Coupe de l’America en multicoque, en septembre dernier, les frères Peyron avaient annoncé qu'ils souhaitaient "fédérer le savoir-faire français" afin de monter un Défi pour tenter de conquérir le prestigieux trophée. C'est désormais chose faite !

Energy Team, le nouveau défi français fédéré autour de Bruno et Loïck Peyron, est officiellement inscrit depuis le 27 janvier 2011 pour la 34e America's Cup. Il devient ainsi le sixième Challenger pour la conquête de l’aiguière d’argent.

Energy Team porté par le Yacht Club de France

Le Coupe de l’America est depuis toujours un défi entre Yacht Clubs. Loïck et Bruno Peyron vont bénéficier d’un soutien prestigieux, puisque c'est le Yacht Club de France qui porte le Défi Energy Team auprès du Golden Gate Yacht Club de San Francisco. Energy Team défendra donc dans des conditions optimales les chances françaises, avec pour ambition d'être parmi les Challengers les plus compétitifs dès les épreuves de la Louis Vuitton Cup. L'ambition d'Energy Team est de tout mettre en œuvre pour participer aux deux prochaines éditions et remporter la Coupe de l'America. Bruno Peyron est le manager global du projet, Loïck le skipper en titre des bateaux en charge du Design Team.

L'AC72 construit chez Multiplast

Pour répondre à son ambition, Energy Team a signé un partenariat exclusif avec Multiplast, le chantier naval vannetais qui est un des référents international dans l’univers du multicoque (Orange I et II, Groupama 3). Le chantier Multiplast est réservé pour Energy Team. La construction du premier catamaran AC72 débutera le 1er septembre prochain pour une mise à l’eau en avril 2012. Yann Penfornis, directeur général du chantier, coordonnera le Design Team et l’équipe de construction de l’AC72, sous la responsabilité de Loïck Peyron.

Dès mars 2011, Energy Team prendra livraison d’un premier AC45, "petit frère" de l’AC72 afin de débuter à Auckland, sa phase d’entraînement.

19 multicoques à l’entraînement

Pour s'entraîner puis courir, Energy Team va s'appuyer sur une impressionnante flotte de multicoques de toutes tailles, 17 plateformes au total : quatre Class A, quatre F18, un D35, un X40, un G-Class (l'ex-Orange II), deux AC45 et deux AC72... plus quatre "F25", à savoir la réplique à l'échelle 1/3 des AC72 qui seront utilisés pour l'America's Cup.

La Base Energy Team, cœur névralgique du système, sera installée sur la façade Atlantique. Elle comprendra trois pôles : à Vannes, au chantier Multiplast, qui sera la base de construction et de développement technologique ; à Lorient, entité dédiée aux maxi-catamarans AC72 et au G-Class ; à La Baule, qui sera à la fois le lieu d'entraînement privilégié de l'équipe sportive et celui qui servira à l'ensemble des activités de relations partenaires et de relations presse.

Le noyau dur de l’équipe

Le noyau dur du "Racing Team" est en place et réunit des expériences dans quatre des disciplines majeures nécessaires à la performance. Le noyau dur constitué à ce jour regroupe les personnes suivantes :

Loïck Peyron, skipper AC 45 et AC 72 : 6 fois N°1 mondial F60, 8 fois vainqueur trophée champions en F28,

Bruno Peyron : 8 fois N°1 mondial des records océaniques, skipper du G-Class ambassadeur d’Energy Team,

Yann Guichard : barreur avec Loïck Peyron : N°2 mondial Extrême 40, Equipe de France Olympique,

Thierry Fouchier : cellule performance, seul Français à avoir remporté l’America’s Cup avec BMW Oracle Racing à bord duquel il fut régleur de l’aile.

Jean-Christophe Mourniac : cellule performance, membre de l’équipe de France Olympique, dans le Top 5 mondial en Tornado et F18 depuis 10 ans.

Yves Loday : cellule coaching jeunes espoirs. Ancien membre de l’équipe de France Olympique, il fut médaille d’or en Tornado en 1992 à Barcelone. Il rejoindra l’équipe afin de préparer la "Youth America's Cup" que lance le Defender américain.

Le Comité exécutif en place

Au sein du Comité Exécutif d'Energy Team, on retrouve, autour de Loïck et Bruno Peyron, des membres aussi influents que Philippe Court, Président et Gérard Petipas, Vice-Président du Yacht Club de France, mais aussi des personnalités dont les expertises et compétences ne peuvent qu'être bénéfiques, tant du point de vue stratégique que marketing, commercial et juridique. François Château, Président du cabinet d'avocats international Salans (chargé des aspects juridiques du projet), Erik Maris, du cabinet de conseil Messier, Maris ou encore Thierry Reboul, Président de l'agence événementielle Ubibene, qui met en œuvre la stratégie marketing et les packages partenaires.

Les dates clé

• 26 octobre 2010 : 1ère annonce de Loïck et Bruno Peyron
• 27 janvier 2011 : Le Yacht Club de France est le Yacht Club officiel du défi
ENERGY TEAM
• 27 janvier 2011 : ENERGY TEAM, 6e challenger officiel
• Mars 2011 : Clôture officielle des inscriptions
• Mars 2011 : Mise à l’eau du premier AC45 Energy Team
• Juin 2011 : Début des AC World Series
• Avril 2012 : Mise à l’eau du premier AC72 Energy Team
• 13 juillet au 1er septembre 2013 : San Francisco, Louis Vuitton Cup.
• 7 au 22 septembre 2013 : San Francisco, match final

Ils ont dit :


Bruno Peyron - Philippe Court (PDT YCF) - Richard Worth (CEO Americas Cup Race Management). Image copyright © Franck Faugere / DPPI / Energy Team.

Philippe Court, Président du Yacht Club de France : « ...après que nous ayons tenté avec force mais en vain de réunir les deux équipes potentielles connues, il a paru non seulement normal mais nécessaire au YCF et à son Conseil de soutenir le projet de Bruno et de Loick Peyron et de porter un défi au Golden Gate Yacht Club en devenant Challenger Officiel pour la 34e Coupe de l’America. Normal car dans le nouveau format de l’America’s Cup, le palmarès de Bruno et de Loïck en multicoques, grande spécialité française, leur légitimité donc, leurs compétences techniques et managériales, font de ces deux marins d’exception les meilleurs candidats à une tentative française dans la Cup. Nécessaire car il est dans le droit fil de la mission du YCF de participer à toute tentative qui peut donner à la France une chance sérieuse de prétendre (enfin) à une victoire dans la Coupe de l’America à laquelle la France a pourtant participé sans interruption depuis 1970 ».

Russell Coutts : « C’est fantastique d’avoir une équipe de plus inscrite et très compétitive, dans l’America’s Cup. Loïck et Bruno Peyron ont acquis une énorme expérience en multicoque et ils savent manier ces bateaux, notamment Loïck qui fut déjà très impliqué lors de la dernière America’s Cup. Je trouve que c’est fabuleux de les voir participer à la prochaine édition. Je sais qu’ils en avaient très envie et c’est génial qu’ils soient désormais inscrits ».

Richard Worth, CEO America’s Cup Race Management : « La Coupe de l’America présentera les meilleurs marins sur les bateaux les plus rapides et c’est pour cette raison que nous sommes heureux d’accueillir le Yacht Club de France et la formidable équipe de Energy Team, réputée pour sa grande expérience en multicoque ».

Le Yacht Club de France

Créé le 15 juin 1867 sous le haut parrainage de l'empereur Napoléon III, il est l’un des plus prestigieux Yacht Club en France. Il a compté parmi ses membres des personnalités aussi illustres que Jules Verne, Virginie Hériot, Alain Gerbault, le commandant Charcot, Marin-Marie et plus récemment Eric Tabarly.

Energy Team
America's Cup

MOD70: The Birth of a Major Event...

The first MOD70. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Multi One Design SA.

by Sandra Mudrojna

Stève Ravussin and Roland Jourdain were today in Lorient, at Keroman Technologies (CDK) shipyard, to unveil the last phase of the construction of their boats. Michel Desjoyeaux, skipper of the third MOD70 “Foncia”, has paid a last minute visit too. Stève Ravussin’s MOD70 “Race for Water” has entered the completion phase (fittings, electronics,…) and the christening is planned on March 25th: a unique launching event which will leave its mark as the “birth of a major event” with an exceptional 4D show open to the public, at the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly in Lorient. As for the MOD 70 nr.2 “Veolia Environnement”, she is entering the assembly phase with a scheduled launch on June 2nd. The first of the MOD 70 series, designed by VPLP, looks stunning. Still not totally branded, the MOD70 nr. 1 “Race for Water” will bear the colours of the Multi One Attitude Foundation.


Race for Water, the first MOD70. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/MultiOneDesign.

“This is the result of a long process” says Stève Ravussin, the skipper and one of the initiator of the series. “To respect the strict one-design concept and to guarantee the performance and the reliability, we had to implement a number of quality controls. It was a huge work, but we managed to achieve it. I believe we have a splendid project that is becoming reality. As a matter of interest, thanks to the implementation of the control procedures, we have already built four sets of floats, with a maximum of 4 kg difference between pieces which are more than 22 meters long.” He adds: “Creating a whole one-design series makes it difficult to realize that it is also “my” boat that will leave the shipyard! It is really a different feeling than working on a personal project. I am really happy, I do not realize yet, but this will be fantastic.”


Steve Ravussin. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Multi One Design SA.

The first boat of the MOD70 series will be skippered by the Swiss sailor and will be the ambassador of the Multi One Attitude Foundation, a foundation created besides the MOD70 circuit, whose objective is water preservation. Central meeting point of the race village, the foundation pavilion will be part of the circuit in the stopover cities, in order to make the public aware of water issues and ocean preservation.

Assembly of the MOD 70 No. 2, which will bear Veolia Environnement livery, has now started at CDK Keroman Technologies. So, it is with a degree of curiosity and considerable eagerness that her skipper Roland Jourdain was also present this morning in Lorient (France) to see the MOD Nr.1, waiting and watching as his own boat takes shape over the coming months.


Veolia Environnement, the second MOD70. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/MultiOneDesign.

“Seeing today the lines of this beautiful bird ready assembled for her release from the shipyard gives tangible form to this new circuit in which I am proud today to participate. Multi One Design has taken the courageous option of a single design to enable economies of scale in financial terms and the environmental impact. The result today is a responsible concept, very 3rd millennium, and which I wholeheartedly support, because there can be no greater spectacle than sporting equality at the start line. I am now eager to take part in this bird’s first flight on the water and to see the! Nr. 2 in the series bearing Veolia Environnement livery with which I will be delighted to share this new challenge. The boats are undeniably the same but this time, it will be ours,” said Roland Jourdain this morning. The MOD Nr. 2 “Veolia Environnement” is scheduled to come off the blocks this coming June.

Michel Desjoyeaux was also at the shipyard today to see the progress of his future competitors boats. “I have not planned to be here today… But at the end I am happy to be able to start earlier with the MOD70 programme. I am so much looking forward to start sailing the boat end of August!”


Michel Desjoyeaux, Steve Ravussin and Roland Jourdain. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Multi One Design SA.

The MOD70 nr.1 launch will take place on Monday March 21st at 8.30 am after a stop at Ocean Development shipyard for the fittings and the last technical stop. The launch will be done in the presence of several Lorient school classes which will symbolically represent the future generations and the willingness to increase the public awareness on water preservation issues. Friday March 25th 2011 will sign the true launch of the MOD 70 series with the first MOD 70, the “Race for Water”. In front of the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly in Lorient (free access), an exceptional 4D show on the water topic will leave a mark as the beginning of a long and beautiful adventure for this new ocean multihull international series.

Dates to remember : 2011 / 2012

March 25th 2011 : Launch of the MOD70 nr. 1 "Race for Water"
June to October 2011 : Delivery of the MOD70 nr. 2 to nr. 4
October 2011 : Test-Match (exhibition race with 3 MOD70)
January to May 2012 : Delivery of the MOD70 nr. 5 and nr. 6

Race Programme: 2012 / 2014

July 2012 : Ocean Race
September 2012 : European Tour
June 2013 : European Tour
November 2013–April 2014: Ocean World Tour (6 stopovers, 5 oceans, 12 racing teams)
August 2014 : Ocean Race

Multi One Design SA

Explore NZ launches new America’s Cup Yacht in Auckland - NZL 68

Explore NZ's new NZL 68 America's Cup yacht. Supplied image.

by Explore NZ media

Explore NZ is excited to announce the launch of their new America’s Cup grand prix racing yacht NZL 68. This yacht joins NZL 41 on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour where members of the public get the opportunity to take the helm, exert energy on the grinders or sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

NZL 68 was originally built by the German Illbruck Challenge under the banner of the Düsseldorf Yacht Club for the 2003 America’s Cup. Construction was halted due to lack of funds. The yacht was then loaned to Emirates Team New Zealand in 2004 where building was completed. Emirates Team New Zealand briefly used NZL 68 as a test boat on the Waitemata Harbour prior to their 2007 America’s Cup campaign in Valencia.

In order to provide an authentic experience only minor changes have made from its original racing condition to comply with the stringent Maritime New Zealand survey requirements.

Explore NZ’s Managing Director William Goodfellow states “We are thrilled to have this yacht sailing around the Hauraki Gulf again, it’s a wonderful addition to our fleet. We are also looking forward to Emirates Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup winning yacht NZL 60 joining 68 on the water later this year.”

Both NZL 41 and NZL 68 offer the two popular excursions ‘Americas Cup Sailing Experience (2hrs)’ and America Cup Match Race (3hrs) and are available for private charters and group bookings.

Explore NZ