2015 edition of the Artemis Challenge sees Musandam Oman Sail take line honours

This year the now super experienced Musandam Oman Sail crew on their much campaigned MOD70 took the win with close competition from Team Concise on the recently purchased and rebranded Paprec recyclage MOD70.  In third place was Lionel Lemonchois on his custom trimaran Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80.  Charging up close behind was the MOD70 of Team Phaedo.

More details on the following article:

http://www.artemischallenge.com/news/view/Musandam_-_Oman_Sail_win_charity_sprint_at_Cowes_Week

and some videos of the event:

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 team set new reference time for Round the Island of Martinique route

From the following article (in French) on bien glace:

http://www.bienglace.com/video-exclu-images-a-bord-du#

and the rough bing translate below:

Gone Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 8:37 local time off the coast of pointe Borgnesse near Marin, Lionel Lemonchois and his crew completed the round of Martinique (96 miles) in 6 hours, 30 minutes and 06 seconds, thus establishing a new reference time around the island of flowers on board Maxi80 Prince de Bretagne.

Lionel Lemonchois takes Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran on qualification run for the Route du Rhum

From the following article (in French) on the Prince de Bretagne Maxi80 website:

http://www.voile.princedebretagne.com/fr/actualites/418/en-route-pour-la-qualif.html

and the rough bing translate is below:

Lionel is preparing to make the 1000 miles of course required for its qualification to the Route du Rhum. Because, if he had widely traveled that distance during his record attempt of the Mauritian at the beginning of the year, the boat has since, underwent some changes. He notably welcomed a new mast and the skipper wanted to do things in the rules of the art.

"Ca is part of the regulation and it is perfect for my preparation. Four days at sea, solo, to work to the best boat, it was some time it pleased me, I'm happy to leave. This is the real recovery! I'll first do 400 miles to the West to reach a first Waypoint, then take due north to go turn the Fastnet before descending on Saint - Quay Portrieux. I have an appointment with producers Prince of Brittany for the multi50 trophy and the feast of the Coco de Paimpol ", explains Lionel."

Weather, conditions will be fairly quiet to start (15-20 knots) and increase a little bit on the second half of the course (20-25 knots). "I will evolve to the close the first two days, then it's downwind in a nice wind." Since the Mauritian, this is my first solo release, I can practice maneuvers, but also on the "side": routing, shipments of photos..."

Arrival in Saint-Quay Portrieux around Thursday noon.

Artemis Challenge, Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 first home after a closely fought battle with Musandam/Oman Sail MOD70

From the following article on the Artemis Challenge website:

http://www.artemischallenge.com/news/view/sailings_top_pros_rising_stars_and_royalty_compete_in_the_eight_artemis_cha

Some of the hottest professional names in sailing and the sport’s rising stars jostled for position alongside royalty, rugby and rock ‘n’ roll stars in the Artemis Challenge – the 50-mile race around the Isle of Wight (Thursday, 7th August).

The eighth edition of the Artemis Challenge, that first took place in 2007, has become a ‘stand-out’ event of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and adding a touch of glamour, as well as their sporting prowess, were Zara Phillips, Mike Tindall and Simon and Yasmin Le Bon.

Six ocean-going racing machines competed in today’s 2014 Artemis Challenge and the calibre of sailing talent was impressive – Volvo Ocean Race skippers Samantha Davies, Team SCA; Charles Caudrelier, Dongfeng Race Team; two time Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing; alongside ocean racing masters that included multiple round the world record holder Brian Thompson, Artemis Ocean Racing; Damian Foxall, skipper Musandam Oman Sail and Lionel Lemonchois, Prince de Bretagne. And alongside eight 33-foot Bénéteau Figaro IIs lined up carrying the next generation of offshore sailing talent racing including Sam Goodchild, Jack Bouttell, Sam Matson and French Figaro skipper Charlie Dalin – who in future years hope to emulate their sailing heroes.

read more here

 

A highlights video has also been released:

Prince de Bretagne team relaunch the Maxi 80 trimaran

The Maxi 80 trimaran has been relaunched after an extensive rebuilding program that has been conducted at the teams Lorient base.  The full rebuild was required after a capsize of the trimaran while pursuing the record route "The Mauritian" the reference time having been set by Francis Joyon.  The new mast has been constructed by Lorima and their facebook page has some good photos courtesy of sealaunay showing the relaunch:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=820443751323182&id=160592717308292

 

 

Prince de Bretagne maxi trimaran, video of the righting procedure that was carried out at sea

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran, arrives safely in Rio after successful righting and tow

From the following press release (in French) on the Prince de Bretagne website:

http://www.voile.princedebretagne.com/fr/actualites/375/le-maxi-80-prince-de-bretagne-a-rio.html

and the rough bing translate:

This isn't quite the epilogue of the record attempt the Mauritian of Maxi80 Prince of Britain and Lionel Lemonchois, but this is a new milestone that has been crossed this afternoon. The trimaran and its skipper have indeed arrived in Rio de Janeiro, at around 14:30 (French time), after five days of towing. Now there two or three days of work to the team on-site to fully disarm platform pending his repatriation to Britain. But, already, the double winner of the Route du Rhum was looking towards the future and currently is working on the new spar from its mounting. Because what does not kill makes stronger and its goal remains unchanged: be ready in Saint-Malo on November 2 and win in Pointe-à-Pitre a dozen days later.
 "Finally!" has dropped Lionel Lemonchois, this Thursday in the early afternoon, shortly after having set foot ashore, in Rio de Janeiro. And for good reason, the browser which, let us remember, was party on January 17 in an attempt to bring down the record time set by Francis Joyon in 2009 between Port-Louis in the harbour of Lorient and Port Louis in the Mascarene archipelago, spent ten days all alone on his boat returned after his capsize at 800 miles off the Brazilian coast, then five days (or almost) on the tug from 24 metres chartered to bring them back to port, he and his Maxi80. "Since Friday evening, it was a bit long because we were not moving to an average of more than 6 knots. It was also very monotonous. Only the last 48 hours have been a little different because with Patrice Richardot, one of the members of my technical team, we have passed on board Prince de Bretagne history to maintain a light flashing on the bridge and prevent a bad meeting in an area of heavy traffic" said the Norman skipper who entered the Bay of Guanabara in mid-morning - until the wind rises - and then in Marina del Gloria a few hours later.

Objective Route du Rhum!

'Everything went well. We had space to manoeuvre, there has therefore been no problem. Prince of Brittany is now docked. We have now two or three days of work to put everything in order before returning to France, Tuesday" he said. He and his Posse will thus proceed to the capsize of the boat, and winches and a certain number of parts in order to preserve to the maximum, the starboard float flushing slightly filled with water and then the complete disarmament of the beast. "We will dismantle what can it be like pulleys, hoists... then all go indoors to ensure that more nothing does trolling on the bridge. Then all will be kept waiting to be repatriated to Lorient» Lionel who has, already, eyes turned to the suite, in this case the Route du Rhum, the main objective of the season completed.It has been a few days I'm already focused on the subject. We are currently in full reflection on the profile of the new mast and we will decide in the coming week" confesses Lemonchois, for whom it is not question of wasting time. And for cause, it always aims to register his name for the third time on the charts of the Queen of sunbeds in solitaire. More than ever even!

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran, tech team successfully right trimaran at sea and put it in tow

From the following press release (in French) from the Prince de Bretagne team:

http://www.voile.princedebretagne.com/fr/actualites/373/le-maxi-80-prince-de-bretagne-et-lionel-lemonchois-en-route-vers-rio.html

and the rough bing translate:

Lionel Lemonchois, who spent, let us remember, not less than ten days alone on his trimaran returned following the capsize occurred January 27 800 miles off the Brazilian coast through the Trinidad Island, can therefore be satisfied with completing an intervention yet delicate but perfectly orchestrated by his team as a whole. Now, he flew to Rio de Janeiro that it should reach five days. The opportunity to revisit these past 24 hours for the less intense with him.

Drill one of the two floats (starboard) as well as all watertight bulkheads in order to fill with water and sink then install straps and a weight of several tonnes on the opposite side to counterbalance to return the boat: so, to sum up, how Lionel Lemonchois and his crew should proceed for the reversal of the Maxi80. On paper, the operation could have simple air, yet in fact, it could prove particularly delicate. Rest the Prince de Bretagne team had perfectly anticipated and prepared. As a result, it has taken to that 10 hours to the small band to complete the intervention. 'We started at sunrise of the day. We have achieved a first attempt in the morning which was aborted after the end on which we had set five tons of chains yields, but in the afternoon, the operation went exactly as we had planned it. The empty float turned very slowly around the central hull before switching and ending at the place. All smooth and without brutality" explained the Norman skipper.

 

A smoothly operation
Result, at 17.30, UT, the trimaran red and grey was again in the right direction. In the aftermath, Lionel and his men set to drain out all the water contained in the starboard float, the link arm and the central hull. 'We finished the seal. It was very physical as with heat, being in action inside the boat had a whole of a real sauna! But everyone is well given' for its part detailed Fred Le Peutrec. After that, he and others conducted a complete check-up of the platform before towing and at the point where the Sun disappeared below the horizon with the Brazilian boat to put the gauze to get started its road back to Rio with behind it, hung a long end 200 metres long, the Maxi80 Prince of Brittany. "Currently, we are moving at the speed of 6 knots. The captain believes that it can not go faster. The weather is rather good: between 15 and 20 knots of wind and a sea of Alizé. We should therefore arrive ashore in five days' said Lionel before tell the funny mishap that he and his bandmates experienced early yesterday morning.

 

A rather unpleasant encounter
An incredible and amazing whose history he prefers not imagine the outcome if he was still alone on his mount upside down. 'Two hours before sunrise, a freighter flying Russian flag approached my boat. He was arrested at approximately ¼ mile. On the tug, we tried to contact him by VHF in order to know its intentions but he did not respond. In my opinion, there was no possible ambiguity, it is a pirate ship. He remained a long time to observe, tempting visibly position themselves between us and the Maxi80. "He ended up leaving, but I don't want to think about the progress of the situation if I was still alone on area ' said Lemonchois today doubly relieved the outcome of capsize.

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80, tech team enroute to Rio to facilitate recovery of capsized trimaran and skipper Lionel Lemonchois

From the following article on the excellent Vsail.info:

http://www.vsail.info/2014/01/28/rescue-operation-of-lionel-lemonchois-and-prince-de-bretagne-maxi-trimaran-underway/

Less than 24 hours after the unfortunate capsize of Lionel Lemonchois’ maxi trimaran, 800 miles off the Brazilian coast, the Prince de Bretagne team has elaborated a rescue and salvage plan for the French skipper and his boat. After going through all available options, a four-strong team (Frédéric Le Peutrec, Patrice Richardot, Gurloës Merrien and Quentin Monégier) has already left France and is flying to Rio de Janeiro where they are expected to arrive early in the morning on Wednesday.

At that time, another two team members (Guillaume Helfer and Didier Le Vourc’h) will fly to South America to lend a hand on site. In addition, two local coordinators are already hard at work on site, preparing the necessary equipment. Their goal is to organize the tow of the trimaran in coordination with Arnaud Aubry, who has remained at Lorient and is in constant contact with Lemonchois.

read more here

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran, tech team on way to facilitate recovery of trimaran

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran capsizes off coast of Brazil, Lionel Lemonchois safe onboard

The following update from the teams facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/MaxiPrinceDeBretagne

and the rough bing translate:

After his emergency beacon in mid-afternoon to 800 miles off the Brazilian coast Monday, Lionel Lemonchois had a brief telephone contact with his team ashore evening.

 

The latter informed its multihull had capsized, he was safely inside the central hull after having released the rigging to relieve the boat.

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 skippered by Lionel Lemonchois departs on record attempt "The Mauritian"

The tracker is now active for Lionel Lemonchois passage record attempt sailing against the reference time set by Francis Joyon on IDEC in 2009:

http://maxi80-lamauricienne.addviso.org/fr/

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80, Lionel Lemonchois makes final preparations to leave on record route "The Mauritian"

An update on the "Mauritian" record attempt looks like they will be leaving tomorrow.  Looking on the web It appears the record is held by Francis Joyon at ~26 days (doesn't seem to be a WSSRC ratified record though).

From the Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 FB page (in French).

https://www.facebook.com/MaxiPrinceDeBretagne?hc_location=timeline

and the rough bing translate:

It refines a little...
"We are almost 100% to go sure. In fact, we see the window state for five days, there should not be any surprise by tomorrow, if not on the exact timing of the departure" stated Normandy skipper.
So, it should leave its Lorient base pontoon around 9:30 to cut the line before 11 a.m. South of the tip of Gâvres.
The Lorient (and others!), come and encourage him to BSM before going off to work

Lionel Lemonchois on the Maxi80 trimaran Prince de Bretagne, final preperations for record attempt "the Mauritian" from Port Louis, Morbihan to Port Louis in Mauritius, standby period starts from next Friday

From the following article (in French) on http://www.voile.princedebretagne/fr/

http://www.voile.princedebretagne.com/fr/actualites/312/validation-du-systeme-video-et-du-pilote-de-rechange.html

and the rough bing translate below:

After three days spent at the Paris boat show, the annual gathering of enthusiasts of water sports to discover what's new in the upcoming season and bringing near 785 exhibitors, 1 300 brands and over 240,000 visitors, Lionel Lemonchois regained its Lorient base to continue its preparation. These days, the skipper of the Maxi80 Prince of Britain and his team have thus finalized the last details of the installation of the video system of the edge then realized two outputs at sea, Tuesday and Friday, to validate all through tests in live with the SICA. These occasions, Norman has also carried out tests of its automatic pilot of "spare". Tests that should continue at the beginning of next week, at the same time to the installation of the wind turbine and the provisioning of the boat. As a result, the trimaran will be in the starting blocks of the Mauritian (record between Port-Louis, Morbihan and Port Louis in Mauritius) from next Friday.