OLIVER HEER OCEAN RACING

Country CH

SUI 49

Baptismal nameCaroline
ArchitectFarr Yacht Design
Construction2007, Nouvelle-Zélande
Launch date8/19/08
Former namesGitana Eighty, 1876, W Hotels, Renault Z.E., Synerciel, GAES Centros Auditivos, Newrest-Matmut, Newrest-Brioches Pasquier, Family Mary-Etamine du Lys, Pure-Family Mary, Pure - Best Western

Skipper

Presentation

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.

Length18,28 m
Beam5,80 m
Draught4,50 m
Weight9 tonnes
Mast height29 m
Mast typeClassical mast
FoilsNo
Sail area max.
Upwind270 m2
Downwind560 m2

Sailing Highlights

2023 : Transat Jacques Vabre - Abandon
2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 21th
2023 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 19th
2022 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 32th
2022 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 21th
2021 : Rolex Fastnet Race - Abandon
2020-2021 : Vendée Globe - 14th
2020 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 15th
2019 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 15th
2019 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 19th
2019 : ArMen Race - 3rd
2018 : Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - 13th
2018 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 7th
2018 : Drheam-Cup 700 - 5th
2018 : Bermudes 1000 Race – Douarnenez / Cascais - 4th
2017 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 12th
2017 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 8th
2016-2017 : Vendée Globe - 11th
2016 : New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne - 8th
2015 : Transat St Barth - Port La Forêt - 2nd
2015 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 8th
2014-2015 : Barcelona World Race - 3rd
2014 : New York - Barcelone - 3rd
2012-2013 : Vendée Globe - 5th
2010-2011 : Barcelona World Race - 3rd
2009 : Transat Jacques Vabre - 9th
2008-2009 : Vendée Globe - Abandon le 15/12/08