Imoca : les dernières infos Tip & Shaft

Britain’s Phil Sharp announced this week that he will have the third Sam Manuard designed IMOCA to be built by Black Pepper Yachts. One of the most successful Class40 skippers of recent years, is also a highly talented mechanical engineer. With his OceansLab he plans to highlight the hydrogen fuel cell technology system which he co-invented and is presently commercialising for the leisure and commercial marine sectors.

On Monday in his hometown of Port-la-Forêt, Jean Le Cam unveiled his 2024 Vendée Globe project. It will feature a brand new boat with daggerboards designed by David Raison and he will be backed by the Finistère department (region), Armor-lux and a group of partners for a budget totalling 4 million euros over 4 years. Tip & Shaft tells you how this project came about.

The Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables d’Olonne, which started last Sunday has proven particularly engaging, with very different weather choices and conditions and now the neutralization of the raceto the east of Iceland which was announced Friday morning. Charlie Dalin was the first to cross the virtual line ahead of Jérémie Beyou and Thomas Ruyant. Tip & Shaft looks back on these first five days, with three Imoca skippers, Clarisse Crémer, Kevin Escoffier and Yoann Richomme, as well as the president of the Imoca class, Antoine Mermod.

25 solo sailors crossed the start line of the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday, the first of the five qualifying races for the Vendée Globe 2024. It is a good opportunity for them to rack up precious qualifying miles (3,500 for those who finish).

With Hublot (Alan Roura), Biotherm (Paul Meilhat), Guyot Environnement (Benjamin Dutreux), Freelance.com (Guirec Soudée) over the past two weeks several sponsors have revealed their colours attached to various Imocas, all with the next Vendée Globe in their sights. Meantime for other skippers, the quest continues.