SolOceans

The Rolex Middle Sea Race was an important step in the campaign of tests and adjustments of the Veolia Oceans^® one-design series for the SolOceans. It was the occasion to collect datas that can be used as benchmarks in terms of speed in light winds conditions, i.e. in conditions representing less than 5% of the racing time in a circumnavigation like the SolOceans. And yet, as all the Veolia Oceans^® one-design will be equipped by identical North Sails sails, the question of which competitor has a spinnaker of more than 100 square metres compared to the other ones while sailing in the same class i.e. on identical boats won't arise. It is the case here in the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Nevertheless, in this adjustment stage of the one-design series carried out by Charles Caudrelier and Yann Clavier, it is useful to compare itself to yachts optimized for various sailing conditions, in order to get some ideas allowing us to keep optimizing the Veolia Oceans^® one-design series, but without increasing the cost to respect the general philosophy of the SolOceans and of the Veolia Oceans^® series. In this time of International economic crisis, the strict control of the cost guaranteed to the teams and their sponsor is a major asset of this competition and of this new oceanic class.

"Under spinnaker in the rear wind, in winds below ten knots (force 2), it is hard for us against prototypes with a bigger sails area" Charles Caudrelier reported when he arrived in Malta "especially with this spinnaker that we have torn in the Indian Ocean between Cape Town and Wellington last winter and which is patched up! But when we sail close to the wind (side wind) we accelerate and pass many pure regatta yachts. Then when the breeze blows at 20 knots and more, we pass everybody, sometimes with a difference of speed of several knots, even prototypes bigger than our one-design. It is very impressive. It's great!".

Direct consequence of this navigation in the calm conditions encountered in Sicily, the surface of the Code Zero (a kind of big light genoa) will be increased. A light masthead rigged spinnaker will complete the "Racing" equipment of the Veolia Oceans^® one-design class. Its surface equal to 290 square metres will have to be compared to the 250 square metres of a basic spinnaker. It will be exclusively used below 12 knots of wind. Above, it might be torn in pieces. On September 8^th, during a navigation in the bay of Quiberon (Morbihan - France) with Michel Desjoyeaux (technical consultant of the Veolia Oceans^® one-design) and North Sails France team, it was already decided to noticeably increase the surface of the Solent and to modify the shape of the main sail in order to gain power in light and medium wind conditions.

With all the modifications already undertaken concerning the set of sails - without any modification on the frame (hull and deck) - and those new technical decisions, the Veolia Oceans^® one-design will offer in fine a better homogeneity in terms of performances under all the points of sails and in all type of winds. Nevertheless, it is definitely in breeze superior to fifteen knots sailing conditions, that constituting the essential of a circumnavigation and oceanic crossings that the Veolia Oceans^® one-design develops plainly her amazing capacity as a planning yacht.

"I was agreeably surprised when I arrived on board Bostik and sailing in regatta to discover that this Veolia Oceans^® one-design is a high-tech boat easy to steer, with easy and effective technical solutions" explained Thomas Rouxel (Défi Mousquetaires) once back in Malta. "It' a very easy boat when you come from the Figaro Bénéteau Class where the way to sail is very different. It's a good step for those who want to then sail on IMOCA 60 prototypes more complex and difficult. For example, you can do everything on board without the running backstay, it's great! Such a complete campaign of tests, in all the sailing conditions and on numerous oceans and waters, it is something exceptional. It has never been done before to perfect a series of racing yachts of such a size. As a conclusion we have a reliable boat. You feel it when you sail it. It's a good boat."

"It's a boat for circumnavigation who loves the breeze and the strong conditions. You can feel it", François Gabart (Espoir Région Bretagne) enthusiastically told us only a few hours after having crossed the arrival line of the Rolex Middle Sea Race. "She is powerfull, it's nice. I was agreeably surprised by the balance of the helm, especially when the wind gets stronger and the speed increases. It's a guarantee not to ask too much on the auto pilot when solo sailing and as a consequence not to consume to much energy when racing around the world or during a transatlantic. My feelings about this Veolia Oceans^® one-design is really positive. It's a seaworthy ship. You feel safe." It is a very important appreciation especially because in the middle of the night Bostik found itself in a dangerous but frequent situation in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Doldrums. While François Gabart and Charles Caudrelier were getting ready at the front of the boat to launch the spinnaker in a light wind but agitated sea an extremely violent storm lay Bostik along in a 40 to 45 knots winds for about ten minutes. As suddenly as this started, the calm encountered all along the course of this fortieth edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2008 came back. As a conclusion to his experience on board the Veolia Oceans® one-design, François Gabart said: "We easily reach 15 knots of speed with only a breeze at twenty knots. Then you accelerate."

After the Rolex Middle Sea Race prize-giving ceremony this week-end in Malta, Bostik will head towards Caen (Normandy - France). It will be an additional test navigation on 2,300 nautical miles (about 4,200 kilometres). Yann Clavier (boat captain) will welcome onboard for the occasion the sailors Franck Ferey and Nicolas Bérenger, thanks to quick stops in Lisbonne (Portugal), Corunna (Spain) and Brest (France). Bostik will then head towards the Nautic, the International Paris Boat Show, where she will be displayed in front of the main hall from 5th until 14th December 2008.