Sea, Sail & Surf news
Solo records
Coville wants to beat Joyon and MacArthur
Thomas Coville in the single-handed round the world multihull adventure
mardi 30 mai 2006 –
Toutes les versions de cet article : [English] [français]
“I love the ocean, both single-handed and in a multihull, and I love the liberty associated with it” explained Thomas Coville, one of today’s most eclectic and experienced skippers of his generation. During a press conference held in Paris this morning, SODEB’O announced the launch in 2007 of a new trimaran geared for record breaking. Designed by Nigel Irens and Benoît Cabaret, and built in Sydney, this future boat propels SODEB’O, Thomas and his team towards one of the most committed challenges of our time : the solo round the world record on a multihull.
A year ago SODEB’O and Thomas geared their 60’ trimaran programme towards single-handed ocean sailing, adventure and records, whilst participating in the greatest ocean races. Following serious damage in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the trimaran SODEB’O will be relaunched in June, after five months in the yard. Two new port beam sections have been grafted to those parts still intact and the new float, reinforced by an additional bulkhead, is currently being assembled. “Rebuilding has been a long, gruelling process. Everyone has shown great powers of physical and psychological stamina” confides the skipper, who will be on the hunt for new records this summer in preparation for the Route du Rhum 2006. “I am preparing for this race in the same way as an athlete or a cyclist who trains throughout the year for a single event. I’ve been following an intense preparation this winter, the boat has been rebuilt with this in mind and we are adapting our sailing programme according to this objective”. Thomas will tackle the SNSM (RNLI equivalent) record on 18th June, prior to taking up three solo challenges : the Round Britain and Ireland, the Channel crossing and the 24 hour record (beaten on 19th April 2006 by Yves Parlier with 587 miles).
SODEB’O shares Thomas’ vision of modern sailing as a mix of emotion, adventure and sporting challenges. “We have opted to continue in the adventure with Thomas Coville who will sail a new multihull in 2007, designed for solo records and the round the world record in particular. This new boat is also set to participate in other races which are currently under discussion” announced Patricia Brochard this morning as Co-President of the group, a leader in the fresh pizza and sandwich market distributed in supermarkets. “This record that only Francis Joyon and Ellen MacArthur have managed to complete without stopovers in a multihull is a simple concept that is easily understood by the public, accompanied by a history as rich as it is fascinating to tell” she added.
The record has belonged to Ellen MacArthur since February 2005, with a time of 71 days and 14 hours, and Thomas and his team have chosen the fathers of B&Q/Castorama to design the new SODEB’O. “I strongly believe in the complimentary qualities of these two personalities, between the technical approach of Benoît Cabaret and the pure creativity of Nigel Irens” he explains, adding “I want a simple, powerful boat that also remains a machine that can be controlled by a single man. The form is not yet fixed but it will measure between 95 and 105 feet (between 28 and 32 metres ; Ellen’s measured 22.50m) and will have an X structure for increased stiffness.” The Boat Speed yard, near Sydney, has been retained for construction of the new SODEB’O which began mid-May and will be completed in June 2007 : “Besides the question of cost and flexible construction methods, it should be highlighted that Nigel and Benoît know this yard well through having worked there on the construction of Ellen’s boat” explains the skipper.
“This round the world concept is something completely new for us. The round the world record on a multihull is also the ultimate adventure, one of the last great epics. Imagine that since the dawn of time, just one man and one woman have succeeded in doing it without stopovers. A few years ago the challenge consisted of crossing the Atlantic, while now it is a massive sprint around the planet. For me, the fact that SODEB’O, a local Vendée enterprise, is committed to this challenge is synonymous with its remarkable openness and dynamism” continues Thomas Coville who has been sailing with this same partner since 1999.
Voir en ligne : Info Presse Sodéb’o Voile / www.sodebo-voile.com
BACKGROUND TO THE SOLO ROUND THE WORLD RECORDS IN THE MULTIHULL
With stopovers
– 1972 - Alain Colas - Manureva - 169 jours
– 1987 - Philippe Monnet - Kriter - 129 jours
– 1988 - Olivier de Kersauzon - Un autre regard - 125 jours
Without stopovers
– 2004 - Francis Joyon - Idec - 72 jours et 22 heures
– 2005 - Ellen MacArthur - B&Q/Castorama - 71 jours et 14 heures
Dans la même rubrique
-
en : #SpindriftRacing
Dona Bertarelli : "We are very happy to have beaten Loïck Peyron’s record"
Spindrift 2 arrived in St Malo this evening (Tuesday) having crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a just over 6 days at an average speed of just over 22 knots in the ninth edition of the Transat Quebec-St Malo. -
en : #RdR2014
Route du Rhum : Sébastien Josse takes 3rd in Guadeloupe
On crossing the finish line of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in third position, on Tuesday 11 November at 03:47:09 GMT, Sébastien Josse has entered the major league in terms of epic multihull sailors. At the helm of the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild, a 21-metre trimaran initially designed to be sailed in crewed configuration, he (…) -
en : #RdR2014
Yann Guichard : "I am so happy now to be in Guadeloupe"
When he crossed the finish line off Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe at 18:18:46 hrs UTC/19:18:46 CET/14:18:46 hrs local time this Monday 10th November, Yann Guichard, solo skipper of the world’s biggest racing trimaran Spindrift 2, finished in second place in the 10th edition of La Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. He took 8d 5h 18mn 46sec at an (…) -
en : #RdR2014
Loïck Peyron : "It is a very nice victory but a team victory"
Thirty two years after the first of his seven attempts, French ocean racing star Loick Peyron won the mythical Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe this Monday morning (TU) when he crossed the finish line of the solo race from Saint-Malo France to Pointe-a-Pitre at 04:08:32 TU/05:08:32 CET/00:08:32 local The lone skipper of the 31.5m (103ft) (…) -
en : Route du Rhum
Yann Guichard : "you get used to the size of the boat"
« Solo sailing a trimaran the size of Spindrift 2 requires complete physical commitment, » says Yann Guichard, who recently sailed from the Azores to La Trinité-sur-Mer, alone at the helm of the world¹s largest racing multihull. With two months to go before the start of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, the skipper arrived late Monday (…) -
en : Ultimes
Francis Joyon : "I’m hopeful that I can win"
It’s now official : in just under three months from now, on 2nd November, Francis Joyon will be setting off on his fifth Route du Rhum between St-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe). Currently preparing for this race, the skipper of the IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran is not leaving anything to chance, which is understandable, given that the standard (…)
A la une
Articles les plus récents
-
fr : Class Ultim • Lorient
24H Ultim 2025 : Les Ocean Fifty s’invitent à la fête les 25-28 septembre
Créées en 2022, avec le soutien de Banque Populaire Grand Ouest, les 24H Ultim bouclent, depuis leur origine, la rentrée des plus grands trimarans du monde, les ULTIM. Cette épreuve installée au calendrier annuel de la Classe éponyme, prend davantage d’ampleur en 2025 pour s’inscrire également au Championnat annuel Ocean Fifty Series. Outre les (…) -
fr : Imoca TeamWork - Team Snef
Justine Mettraux : "Construire un IMOCA est un immense challenge"
Associés depuis 2024 auprès de Justine Mettraux, TeamWork, son partenaire historique et le Groupe Snef, ont décidé de lancer la construction d’un nouvel IMOCA à bord duquel Justine disputera le prochain Vendée Globe. Ce plan Guillaume Verdier, cousu main pour la suissesse, sera mis en construction en avril 2026 chez CDK en Bretagne pour une (…) -
fr : Foiling catamarans
2025 TF35 season : Julien Firmenich’s Ylliam 17 claimed victory in Nyon
Julien Firmenich’s Ylliam 17 claimed victory this weekend at the opening event of the 2025 TF35 season in Nyon, marking their first-ever regatta win since joining the fleet in 2023. Sailing alongside Firmenich were tactician Guillaume Rol and crew members Ed Powys, Stewart Dodson, Matthieu Ravussin, and Nelson Mettraux. -
fr : Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
PAPREC 600 Saint-Tropez : Mikael Mergui l’emporte à nouveau en Class40
Ce vendredi 23 mai à 2h11 et 52’, après 3 jours, 14 heures et 11 minutes de course très intense, physique et stratégique, le Class 40 Centrakor avec Mikael Mergui et Richard Robini franchit la ligne d’arrivée de la Paprec 600 Saint-Tropez. Une double victoire pour Mika : premier toutes classes confondues en temps réel et vainqueur dans le (…) -
fr : Course en solitaire
Mini en Mai 2025 : Benoît Marie et Amaury Guérin triomphent après 460 milles de duels
C’est à 11h34, jeudi 22 mai, que Benoît Marie (1067 - Nicomatic Petit Bateau) a coupé la ligne d’arrivée en vainqueur de la 12e édition de la Mini en Mai. Après 3j 3h32’00” de course et une âpre bataille, Benoît Marie remporte pour la première fois cette épreuve mythique du circuit Mini, quelques minutes devant son concurrent direct depuis le (…) -
fr : Imoca MACSF
Corentin Horeau : "je suis très heureux de rejoindre le team Voile MACSF"
Le groupe d’assurance mutualiste MACSF poursuit son engagement dans la voile avec une nouvelle ambition, un nouveau skipper et un nouveau bateau. Présente aux éditions 2016, 2020 et 2024 du Vendée Globe, la MACSF met le cap sur le Vendée Globe 2028 avec le skipper Corentin Horeau. -
fr : Equipe de France de Voile
Lauriane Nolot est championne d’Europe 2025 de Formula Kite
Après un weekend déjà exceptionnel pour l’Équipe de France de Voile Olympique, avec le titre mondial de Louise Cervera en ILCA 6 et la médaille de bronze de Matisse Paucaud et Lucie de Gennes au Championnat d’Europe de 470, les kitesurfeuses tricolores ont conclu en beauté cette première salve de championnats internationaux. De retour sur l’eau (…) -
fr : Imoca Banque Populaire 14
Loïs Berrehar : "Mutualiser avec deux autres équipes, c’est mobiliser plus de cerveaux"
Pour la première fois dans l’histoire récente de la classe IMOCA, trois équipes dont Banque Populaire se sont associées dans la création, la conception et la construction de trois IMOCA. Aux côtés de l’architecte Antoine Koch, du cabinet Finot Conq et Gsea Design, le bureau d’études du Team Banque Populaire a travaillé de concert avec Malizia (…) -
fr : TR Racing | Imoca
Antoine Koch : "Nous travaillons sur un seul design pour trois équipes concurrentes sur l’eau"
C’est une première au sein de la Classe IMOCA, la collaboration entre trois skippers, trois Teams, trois bureaux d’études dans la création de trois IMOCA conçus en coordination, pour un programme à débuter en 2026. Sous l’impulsion de l’écurie de course au large TR Racing, les équipes de Loïs Berrehar (Banque Populaire), Boris Herrmann (…) -
fr : Equipe de France de Voile
Louise Cervera sacrée Championne du Monde en ILCA 6 à Qingdao
Au bout d’une semaine très particulière, les conditions météos n’ayant pas permis de naviguer pendant les 4 premiers jours de course, Louise Cervera (CN Mandelieu / BP Med) a été sacrée Championne du Monde en ILCA 6 à Qingdao en Chine ! 17 ans après le titre de Sarah Steyaert, c’est la deuxième fois de l’histoire qu’une française monte sur la (…)
