NEXANS - ART & FENÊTRES

The boat was later sold to Dutch skipper Pieter Heerema, an industrialist and one of the world’s finest Dragon racers, who participated in the transatlantic qualifier for the Vendée Globe between the Canaries and Newport. However, in the New York-Vendée transatlantic, the solo sailor hit UFOs several times, damaging a foil in the process, the boat lamenting minor water ingress. Following repairs in Newport, the monohull got back out on the racetrack, but retired in Lorient due to bad weather at the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne. Seventeenth in the Vendée Globe 2016-2017, No Way Back was put up for sale on her return. Damien Seguin was very interested, but it was Fabrice Amedeo who carried the day. Rechristened Newrest-Art & Fenêtres, the boat competed in the Bermudes 1000 Race in 2018 (4th), then the Route du Rhum, which the solo sailor finished in 12th place despite a technical pit stop in Cascaïs due to a broken bowsprit. Teamed up with Éric Péron, the former journalist finished 9th in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 once the boat had undergone some ergonomic enhancement. In 2020, he took the start of the Vendée Globe, but was forced to retire in Cape Town due to recurring electronics issues. In 2021, the boat was revamped and launched under new colours, those of Nexans and Art & Fenêtres. Unfortunately, she hit the bottom violently at the entrance to the channel into La Trinité-sur-Mer, which led to a lengthy refit and a curtailed season, which nevertheless rounded off with a very honourable Transat Jacques Vabre (10th) with the young Loïs Berrehar. During the following winter, Fabrice Amedeo began a major refit of the boat, fitting the large foils previously used on Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss (now known as Hublot). So far in 2022, he has twice finished 19th place in the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race and the Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne.

2019: Transat Jacques Vabre - 9th
2019: Défi Azimut - 14th
2019: Rolex Fastnet Race - 8th
2019: Bermudes 1000 Race - 7th
2018: Route du Rhum - 12th
2018: Monaco Globe Series - 3rd