FOR THE PLANET

Country FR

FRA 100

Baptismal nameNAT'CHE
ArchitectGuillaume Verdier
Construction2019, Persico Marine, Italie
Launch date9/7/19
Former namesLINKEDOUT

Presentation

Launched in September 2019 amidst an array of new IMOCA monohulls intended to take the start of the Vendée Globe 2020-2021, Advens for Cybersecurity rechristened LinkedOut, is a design by Guillaume Verdier’s team for Thomas Ruyant and, somewhat unusually, the build was launched at the Persico yard before the sailor from northern France found any partners.

A few hull points and above all the ergonomics for solo sailing slightly differ from the original concept, which was also intended to contest The Ocean Race – the Super Sixty concept did not succeed. LinkedOut is the virtual sistership to APIVIA designed by the same architectural firm. The boat is narrower than those in the previous Vendée Globe, with more volume up forward. The freeboard has been reduced to lower the centre of gravity. Set back further, the sail plan has taken inspiration from multihulls. The headsails are smaller and flatter. The boat immediately showed great potential, because despite a pit stop in Cherbourg, Thomas Ruyant and Antoine Koch secured a 5th place for their IMOCA in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019. The boat was sailed back from Brazil singlehanded and then with her shore team, so the latter could see what life was like on the IMOCA before her skipper put the boat in for another refit to optimise her. Adaptations for a singlehanded round the world were undertaken and notably included a reverse watch seat and improved visibility from the cockpit cuddy… After bagging third place in the Vendée Arctique in 2020 Thomas Ruyant took the start of his second singlehanded round the world as race favourite. He spent two thirds of the race in the top trio, despite lamenting a broken foil from the Cape of Good Hope, which he had to cut up mid-ocean. He was 4th over the finish line, dropping to 6th in the overall ranking after other time bonuses were added. In November 2021, Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière confirmed that the boat (and the sailors) had real potential. They took the win in the Transat Jacques Vabre in Martinique ahead of APIVIA. In 2022, Thomas Ruyant had to retire from the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race after breaking the rudder system whilst battling it out in the top trio, but went on to finish 3rd in the Vendée Arctique. Labelled as one of the favourites for the Route du Rhum, LinkedOut 1 will be up for sale or charter as LinkedOut 2 (Koch-Finot-Conq) is currently in build. In 2023, Sam Goodchild is taking over the helm of the best IMOCA in the current fleet with a view to the next Vendée Globe. Having raced the first three legs of The Ocean Race alongside Kevin Escoffier's crew, the British sailor is not stopping and will be racing his new IMOCA for the first time in the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race.

Length18,28m
Beam5,85m
Draught4,50m
Weight8 tonnes
Mast height29m
Mast typeWing mast
FoilsYes
Sail area max.
Upwind320m2
Downwind430m2

Sailing Highlights

2023: Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 3rd
2023:
Rolex Fastnet Race - 3rd
2023:
Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 3rd
2022:
Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 1st
2022:
Défi Azimut - 2nd
2022:
Vendée Arctique - 3rd

2022: Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - Retired
2021: 
Transat Jacques Vabre - 1st
2021: 
Défi Azimut - 3rd
2021: 
The Ocean Race Europe - 3rd
2020-21: 
Vendée Globe - 6th (80d 15h 22m 01s)
2020: Défi Azimut - 9th
2020: Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 3th
2019: Transat Jacques Vabre - 5th
2019: Défi Azimut - 16th

© Pierre Bouras / TR Racing
© © Pierre Bouras / TR Racing
© © Pierre Bouras / TR Racing