Middle Sea Race: JPK 11.80 Courrier Recommandé heading for resounding one-two punch

After the abandonment of the Trimaran Ad Maiora (Read HERE what happened and watch the VIDEO of the rescue), it is beginning to be verdict time in Malta for the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The IRC overall standings, which spoke Italian at length throughout the regatta, change masters. In first position, with a good chance of remaining there firmly despite the many boats still at sea, is now Gery Trentesaux’s JPK 11.80 Courrier Recommandé, already the winner of the 2018 edition and thus heading for a resounding double.

Despite the small size of the boat compared to the other contenders for overall victory, Courrier sailed decidedly fast in real time, both in the early breezes and later in the strong Sirocco (up to 35 knots with over 2 meters of wave). Chewing bitterly on the Italian boats, the Club Swab 42 BeWild is currently in third position after being in the lead for a long time, but could console itself with first place in ORC overall (which, however, does not award the overall victory of the regatta, which is reserved for the IRC overall classification). In provisional second position, however, is Christoph and Maya Podesta’s Maltese First 45 Elusive 2, a veteran boat in the Middle. In fifth place, however, is Ice 52 Prima Vista Lauria.

THE JPK DYNASTY

JPKs, from the French shipyard of the same name, are now a “dynasty” of designs that have the vice of winning super offshore classics. JPKs, and the 11.80 in particular (big sister of the 10.80 that has already won Fastnet and Middle) are boats expressly designed for offshore racing and very sporty cruising, projects designed for IRC regulation, designed by Jacques Valer – one of the great performers in the IRC world-but with generally all round characteristics. Pronounced maximum beam, that of the 11.80 is 3.95 mt, and set back for power and stability in the slack in strong winds and waves. Slight aft edge, ending well before midship, for best upwind sailing in heavy wind, but fine, round front volumes so as not to be penalized in light winds. The 11.80 does not have a hull that is absolutely unbalanced toward carrying gaits, the edge is not too hard, and the boat still has round hull shapes, which allows it to have “all round” performance while still favoring carrying gaits. The keel draft at 2.34 m with a displacement of just 5900 kg of which 2650 is in the keel, coupled with an upwind area of 89 sq m and a spinnaker of 134 give the size of this boat’s power-to-weight ratio.

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