LINKEDOUT

In the end the race changed ownership and the decision was made not continue with a race-owned fleet. The IMOCA 60 class will however be the flagship class in the 2021 edition of the fully crewed, stage race around the world. Launched in September 2019 Thomas Ruyant’s IMOCA 60 Advens is the fruit of the design work that went into the Volvo Super 60 concept along with his own team’s ideas incorporated to adapt the design for solo sailing. The composite box was built by Persico and the boat was fitted-out by Thomas’ team Lorient. A solid fourth on the water in the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre with Antoine Koch as co-skipper, coupled with several runs flirting with the overall 24-hour distance record during the race shows this boat to be truly competitive. A singlehanded delivery home gave Thomas the time to imagine life aboard during the Vendée Globe and the winter refit will incorporate many of these improvements. Returned from Brazil singlehanded, the skipper then entrusted his boat to his shore team prior to a minor refit managed by Laurent Bourguès: like a lot of sailors, new adaptations for a singlehanded round the world were made, including an inverted watch seat and improved visibility regarding the cockpit cuddy… A mark two version of the foils is underway with testing due in late summer. Expect to see Advens on the start line for both solo Transatlantic races in the Spring of 2020, a new set of improved foils installed in early Summer and a competitive project lining up for the Everest of the Seas the solo, non-stop, round the world race the 2020 Vendée Globe in November. At the conclusion of this circumnavigation in early 2021 the boat will be available for charter for The Ocean Race with or without technical, commercial and logistical support.