ANETT - KALHYGE

Here’s an IMOCA designed by Farr Yacht Design, which has seen a whole host of skippers grace her decks… some greats at that!

Designed for Loïck Peyron with the aim of participating in the Vendée Globe 2008-2009, Gitana Eighty initially competed in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 with Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant (8th), then The Transat, which the skipper from La Baule won for the third time! Whilst lying in 3rd position in the solo round the world race, Loïck Peyron saw his mast break up off Kerguelen. The Farr design then headed to Spain wth Guillermo Altadill, then Pachi Rivero, who finished 9th in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2009 (with Yves Parlier), then 3rd in the Barcelona World Race 2010-2011 with Antonio Piris. Next, Jean Le Cam (Synerciel) took command of her for the Vendée Globe (5th), before the monohull returned to Spain for the Barcelona 2014-2015 with Anna Corbella and Gérard Marin (3rd). Fabrice Amedeo acquired her in 2015 for a Transat Jacques Vabre (8th) with Éric Péron, then for the Vendée Globe (11th). Eighteenth in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 (with Giancarlo Pedote), Fabrice Amedeo passed on the batten to Romain Attanasio in 2018 for the Route du Rhum (13th), the Transat Jacques Vabre (15th) and the Vendée Globe 2020-21 (14th). The Swiss Oliver Heer, former boat captain of Hugo Boss from 2018 to 2021, acquires the IMOCA in 2022 with a view to the Vendée Globe 2024. Based in Port-la-Forêt, the boat set off for its first race in the Round Britain and Ireland Race, but had to withdraw following an injury on board. With 50,000 miles under his belt in the IMOCA class, the Zurich-born sailor, who is very committed to the environment, will compete in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, finishing 32nd. In 2023, the Swiss racer took part in the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Défi Azimut, but was forced to retire during the Transat Jacques Vabre, when a structural part broke, causing the loss of the lower stay and damage to the hull and deck.