A CLASS THAT IS REALLY TAKING OFF 15th Oct 2010
New boats are being launched, there is more and more interest from around the world and events are proving to be increasingly popular… All of the ingredients are there to make the IMOCA class the leading category in ocean racing today. In particular, the coming weeks will feature two events with superb line-ups and where we can expect to see some closely-fought battles : the Route du Rhum, which starts in Saint-Malo on 31st October, then the Barcelona World Race, which begins in Barcelona on 31st December. Dynamic and attractive, the IMOCA circuit is looking towards the future and it certainly looks bright.
The first thing we can see is that three IMOCA monohulls launched this year will be lining up at the start of the Route du Rhum. Vincent Riou’s PRB, Jean-Pierre Dick’s Virbac-Paprec 3 and Michel Desjoyeaux’s Foncia. A fourth project is underway. Bernard Stamm’s new Kouyoumdjian-designed boat is due to be launched next February. These IMOCA Boats from the latest generation will be doing battle with some of the older boats, which have already shown what thy can do. So we can look forward to some fantastic battles. Particularly as the races on the official IMOCA circuit are attracting many competitors and the public is increasingly enthusiastic.
Attractive events
About twenty IMOCA monohulls will be taking part in the Route du Rhum and / or the Barcelona World Race. Nine boats will be lining up at the start of the prestigious transatlantic race and fifteen crews are due to take part in the second non-stop double-handed round the world race (there were only nine in the first race). We can clearly see that the event has been successful and is attracting an increasing number of entrants. Among them, top names from ocean racing like Michel Desjoyeaux, Alex Thomson, Dominique Wavre, Kito de Pavant, Jean Pierre Dick and Dee Caffari.
Internationalisation
These leading names from the IMOCA circuitwill be coming up against some crews from various backgrounds.The Barcelona World Race seems to have managed to do what it was attempting: attracting international crews. The fleet will include sailors from eight different nationalities (France, Spain, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, the US, New Zealand and Poland). Symbol of this internationalisation, the new crew formed by the German, Boris Herrmann and the American, Ryan Breymaier. The two men are getting ready to take part in their first double-handed IMOCA race on board Neutrogena, the former Veolia Environnement aboard which Roland Jourdain and Jean Luc Nélias took part in the first edition of the event. Boris Herrmann is therefore about to become the first German to join the IMOCA class. As for Krzysztof Owczarek, he will be sailing Fruit, the first IMOCA to fly the colours of Poland. We shall also be seeing alarge Spanish contingent, who are all experienced and determined.
Looking further ahead
After the Barcelona World Race, all of those involved in the circuit will be able to meet up again for the Europa Race, the race around Europe, which will begin in Istanbul on 2nd July 2011, then the Transat Jacques Vabre, which begins in November. Meanwhile, of course, the event that many kippers are already dreaming of is the 2012 Vendée Globe. With two years to go to the next non-stop solo round the world race, more and more projects are appearing. This is good news for a class, which is likely to continue to thrive in the coming years.
