La Hirondelle 28

 

The row is over, between the ULTIM class association and Francois Gabart's team SVR-Lazartigue. His trimaran was launched with winches and controls mounted deep within the central hull. Two streamlined, jet fighter style, canopies the (usually solo) crew's only window on the world outside. Thus reducing aerodynamic drag and crew fatigue, from the driving spray, and sixty five knot apparent wind, once the boat is fully powered up and foiling. An approach ruled out-of-class, on safety grounds, following appeals by other ULTIM teams.

Mer Concept, in Concarneau (the company which Francois Gabart founded to support his successful bid, to set the solo round the world sailing speed record, which he has held since 2017) is now completing modifications. After a year of legal wranglings. The enclosed cockpit concept has been widely adopted, since the launch of SVR. Most notably by the Vendee Globe IMOCA fleet. The changes are to ensure that the helm is better able to maintain an adequate lookout, whilst tending lines, navigating and steering, at forty knots. 

The giant multihull dwarfs the dockside buildings. Lean and angular. As much aircraft as boat.

A steady stream of sightseers arrives, by land and sea, to marvel at the chiselled form, of this futuristic craft.

Maxime Sorel's newly built IMOCA lies against a stone quay, further up the commercial harbour. Sporting a low slung, fully enclosed, cockpit, latest generation foils and dragon snouted livery. She is believed to be a close sister ship to (perhaps prototype for?) Charlie Dalin's boat-in-build, under MACIF sponsorship. (Long time supporters of Francois Gabart and Mer Concept).

The replacement for his dominant IMOCA Apivia. Familiar to Stargazer through crossing wakes off the Lizard in 2021. Stargazer returning from her cruise of Scilly. Chalie Dalin on his way to win Fastnet line honours.