Presentation
In 2007, Groupe Bel was one of the first two VPLP-Verdier designs and she would go on to revolutionise IMOCA racing for several years. Though the hull and her distinctive chine that spreads over her entire length are the same as that on Safran, she is equipped with a wing mast and twin steering wheels and was built by the Indiana Yachting yard in Italy.
Designed for Kito de Pavant, who was preparing for the Vendée Globe 2008-2009, she finished 6th in the Transat Jacques Vabre (with Sébastien Col), but dismasted in the Bay of Biscay the day after the start of the round the world in a meaty depression picking up very heavy seas. As a result, 2009 is an opportunity to beat the Trans-Mediterranean record (1 day 20 hours) before finishing second in the Transat Jacques Vabre with François Gabart. However, the Route du Rhum 2010 campaign comes to an end following a faulty keel pin, as is the case in the Barcelona World Race (with Sébastien Audigane). Kito de Pavant amasses a series of technical issues (dismasting, then collision), marring the track record of an otherwise formidable IMOCA, which has gained widespread acceptance.
Kito de Pavant hands over his boat to Imagine, who competes in the Route du Rhum with Armel Tripon (4th) before having to draw a line under the Vendée Globe due to a sad affair with his partner. Thomas Ruyant took the helm again for the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 with Adrien Hardy (4th) before a first Vendée Globe in 2016-17 that ended in New Zealand after colliding with a UFO and literally tearing the hull and then the deck like a tin can. The sailor from the north of France managed to bring his boat back to port, just as it was threatening to break in two.
Bought by Irishman Enda O'Coineen and repaired in Christchurch, the ex-Souffle du Nord returned to Les Sables d'Olonne on a delivery trip, before being sold to Maxime Sorel at the end of 2018. V and B-Mayenne takes part in the Bermuda 1000 Race (5th), then in the Transat Jacques Vabre with Guillaume Le Brec (16th). During the Vende Globe 2020-21, the young Sorel sailed a remarkable race and finished 10th, just 2 days and 8 hours behind the winner Yannick Bestaven.
Conrad Colman bought him in April 2022, finishing 10th in the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race in May and 18th in the Vendée Arctique in June. The brilliant New Zealander had completed his first Vendée Globe without fossil fuel and in 16th place under jury rig after breaking his mast 700 miles from the finish in 2017.
After a more than remarkable Route du Rhum, with only 7 months in control of the boat, Conrad Colman was struggling to find the funds to continue his adventure... Until Mail Boxes etc. signed him up for a partnership to race in the 2023 season, and potentially up to the Vendée Globe 2024.
