2023-06-23 22:55:00
Second in the last solo round the world race, the sailor from Le Havre is launching his new monohull entirely designed this Saturday to win the next edition in 2024.
The big day has arrived. This Friday, for the first time, Charlie Dalin’s new monohull peeked out of its construction hangar in Concarneau before heading to Port-la-Forêt where it will be officially launched this Saturday. The sailor from Le Havre, second in the last Vendée Globe, confirms to Le Figaro that this sailboat wearing the colors of Macif Santé Prévoyance has only one objective: to win the next solo round the world race scheduled for 2024.
Le Figaro. – How do you feel when you launch your new boat?
Charlie DALIN. – This is my second launch of a new boat, after that of Apivia in 2019. And it remains a brilliant moment which is the culmination of a lot of work, with 50 people involved in the construction. We launched the studies at the start of 2021, i.e. more than a year and a half, and 60,000 hours of work. It’s nice to see the pieces of the puzzle come together, after seeing them on a screen. We only released the model of the hull in 3D printing to realize the volumes.
Erase the weak points
What are the main differences between the old and the new boat?
It is overall a more powerful boat, a little narrower behind and a little wider in front to stay more on the surface of the water. The philosophy is to keep the strong points of the old and to erase the weak points, especially downwind in heavy seas.
Have you been able to calculate the expected gain?
On the hull alone, we can hope to save a day and a half for a Vendée Globe. And there is also a gain just for the foils. We did tests in a digital hull tank with waves, which had not been done for Apivia, and the gain for the peak of drag is estimated at 10-12%. There will be less water on deck, up to a certain wave size.
The new monohull leaving the CDK yard M. Horlaville / disobey./ Macif
You have also worked on comfort on board…
We have built a boat without compromise in terms of performance, but we have also done a lot of work on ergonomics and discomfort on board. We have thus reversed the cockpit and the living area which are small, about 5 square meters each, to limit movement. In the studio, the nickname we gave to the living area, I have everything at hand, to eat, sleep, work. The bunk is thus less than a meter from the chart table which I have fixed to port with a real seat. I spend 6 to 7 hours there a day to work on the weather and the navigation.
What I’m most looking forward to is the first confrontation, the first speed test or the first race
Charlie Dallin
Has experience spoken?
Exactly, it’s an experience boat. When we designed the previous one, I had never sailed solo in an Imoca and never competed in the Vendée Globe. This boat is the fruit of all the knowledge accumulated during this first cycle. We drew on our experience with Guillaume Verdier to make a boat that crashes and decelerates less. The objective is to be faster in top speed and in daily average.
When will you know what’s in his stomach?
I can’t wait to try it and I have itchy legs. Launching is something, but it’s during the first sail that you see the boat come to life. What I’m most looking forward to is the first confrontation, the first speed test or the first race. This is a very strong moment. I remember it perfectly for Apivia.
Lhe first miles in the race are scheduled when?
It will be during the Rolex Fastnet Race (July 22) but we will be more in the running-in period… It may be a bit tight to win.
Your goal is to win another race, planetary this one…
Of course, I want to win the next Vendée Globe and the boat is designed for that. It didn’t go far the last time, at nearly 2:30. And the best witness to my determination is the cockpit of the boat, which is clearly not a cockpit for sailing with a crew. We’ve thought of everything for the solo sailor, without any compromise for the crew…
#boat #uniquely #designed #win #Vendée #Globe