With his IMOCA 60 Macif, François Gabart proved to be the strongest of all. The “blondie of the oceans,” 31, after the BtoB and the 2013 Vendée Globe (nonstop solo round-the-world race), also conquered the Route du Rhum (3,542 miles from Saint Malo, Brittany, to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe) with a record time of 12 days, 4 hours and 38 minutes.
A MAXI TRIMARAN FOR GABART
Now the time has also come for him to enter the court of the “big boys,” to play with the likes of Peyron, Lemonchois, Coville, Guichard, Joyon and Desjoyeaux. Still to be called Macif will be the new 100-foot trimaran aboard which Gabart will embark on a busy schedule of regattas and endeavors, culminating in a record attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 2019 (a record belonging to Francis Joyon, who took 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds on the trimaran IDEC): it was designed and styled by Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost (of VPLP studio), the brains behind its ultra-winning IMOCA 60 as well. The maxi trimaran will fit into the “Latest” category, that of giants, which goes to encompass MOD70, maxi trimarans such as the 131-foot Spindrift 2, Banque Populaire, Prince de Bretagne, Sodebo, IDEC.
FOR SOLO RECORDS
It will be a boat optimized for solo sailing, taking advantage of the latest technologies inherited from the America’s Cup: for example, rudder blades with “T” foils and other types of foiling brought to a large scale. The new Macif is already in an advanced state of construction in France, as seen in Yachting World photos, and will be launched in summer 2015.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET.
Length about 30 m
Beam max. 20 m
Height of the tree 35 m
Upwind sail sup. 600 sqm
Sup. sail to the carriers 700 sqm
