INITIATIVES-CŒUR

Built by the Black Pepper shipyard using the moulds of Armel Tripon’s IMOCA and launched on 30 July 2022, Initiatives-Cœur 4 is a Manuard design-the third by the architect to feature the idea of “scow”-type bows for 60-footers. Sam Davies’ team, led by technical director Anne-Claire Le Berre, took over the carbon hull and then carried out all non-composite assembly work in Lorient at their base.

Compared with Armel Tripon’s boat (launched in January 2020), there are several specific features, including adaptations to the new 2025 class rule in areas such as structure, and the absence of Nomex in the bottom of the hull—partly a consequence of the damage suffered by Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss. The class-compliant foils are different, and therefore so are the foil cases and associated systems. They were also designed to be more forgiving. The boom is one-design, and the coachroof was designed by the Initiatives-Cœur 4 design office. All mechanical systems on board that are not one-design were also developed in-house, drawing on experience from the previous boat. Keen to “preserve” herself physically, Sam Davies dictated the interior layout and the ergonomics of the cabin and cockpit, and the design office tailored everything to her requirements. The first sailing sessions only confirmed these choices. From the moment it was launched, the boat appeared very promising. After a 2022 season focused on adaptation, 2023 was something of a breakthrough. Sam Davies racked up a series of fifth-place finishes throughout the year, just minutes off the podiums in the races. The British skipper was highly anticipated in 2024. In October, Initiatives-Cœur 4 was on the start line of the Vendée Globe, Sam Davies’ third. After two retirements in previous editions, she finished this time in a very respectable 13th place. In 2025, the Initiatives-Cœur team announced the arrival of Violette Dorange as co-skipper for the season. In 2026, the young skipper therefore becomes the official skipper of the IMOCA Initiatives-Cœur, with a view to the next Vendée Globe.