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 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.

Prince de Bretagne Maxi trimaran, relaunched and ready for Fastnet Race

The Prince de Bretagne team have relaunched the Maxi 80 trimaran.  The recent round of modifications focused on the installation of a canting mast system.  This system works on lines and purchases rather than the more common hydraulic systems used on other maxi trimarans.  The main driver is weight by using the string driven system considerable weight savings can be realized over a hydraulic setup.

A recent article goes into some detail (in French).

http://www.princedebretagne-mer.com/actualites/302-fin-de-chantier

Prince de Bretagne maxi hauled out and in shed receiving modifications for canting rig

Lionel Lemonchois and the Prince de Bretagne team are implementing the canting rig as quickly as possible in order to provide shake down and training time prior to the RORC Fastnet Race.

From the following article on the Prince de Bretagne website:

http://www.princedebretagne-mer.com/actualites/300-derniere-semaine-de-chantier

Here is the rough bing translate

Entering the shelter on the return from the Route des Princes, and the shadow of the hangar at the base of Lorient at the beginning of the month of July, the Maxi80 Prince of Brittany knows his last days of summer starts. True to his habit, Lionel Lemonchois is working with a small team to optimize its oceanic courier with the objective of quickly to find water. As soon as next Thursday, the trimaran red and grey will be rearmed, remâté, and equipped with a tilting rig, pledge of immediate performance gain.

 

The Princes Highway proved to be instructive, and Lionel Lemonchois was quick to take advantage to engage a major project in record time. Indeed, many saltwater sank under the floats of the maxi-multihull since the first navigation in Lorient bay at the beginning of the month of January. After the first races of spring, and in in wake of the 2 500 miles covered along the coasts in Princes road, the development time has come for team Prince of Brittany, who is currently working for the courier ocean of a pole whose inclination can be adjusted depending on the degree of heel.

"This is a small feature, which will allow him to gain a few precious knots resembling closely." Being able to toggle the mast, this allows to take advantage of the surface of sails when the vessel begins to exit the central hull of the water. Lionel may, in crew as in solitaire, adjust the mast towards the optimum heel", explains Quentin Lucet, a naval architect with VPLP (Lauriot Prévost - Van Peteghem).

"If during its design, this"tilting mast option"was not accepted, it is that we wanted to focus the length in accordance with the specifications of weight", pursues one that is currently working closely with Lionel Jacques Roudot, the head of construction, and Bambino, responsible for the rigging of the boat. "ll was important to validate the design of the boat, and to see with regard to its first sporting confrontations what changes could be made to it. This tilting mast, it is in the logic of things, this is an option that had been considered very early in terms of optimization. It is a true guarantee of performance, especially in the light airs, and the priority objective of this summer yard."

Featuring a well optimized rig, and after a great first overhaul, Prince de Bretagne out of the shipyard Thursday, July 25. Lionel Lemonchois and his team will then conduct navigations of training for the next Fastnet Race, the start will be given on August 11, next to the coast of Cowes.

Prince de Bretagne Maxi update, modifications planned

The Prince de Bretagne team are planning some modifications to the Prince de Bretagne Maxi.  The plan is to implement a canting mast to allow a straightforward boost in performance.

The original article (in French) is here:

http://www.princedebretagne-mer.com/actualites/299-chantier-d-ete-et-mat-basculant-pour-le-maxi80-prince-de-Bretagne

and the rough Bing translate:

A few days after a finish the Route des Princes who did honour, in Bay of Morlaix, producers and the ties that bind them to the world of the sea, the Maxi80 Prince of Britain has joined its base in Lorient. Soon dismasted and disarmed, it is in the shadow of the construction that the trimaran red and grey debuted the summer. More than a great overhaul, Lionel Lemonchois and his men are now working to equip the maxi multihull with a system allowing to switch the mast, with the objective of quickly gain in performance, and to assert its power.

Four steps for approximately 450 miles (4 538 miles) travelled to the rhythm of five stops of Valencia in the Bay of Morlaix, the first edition of the Route of the Princes has proved very beneficial for all the team Prince de Bretagne. During these three weeks of race instructive, Lionel Lemonchois and his crew largely benefited from the intense competition played against the monotypes trimarans (MOD 70) to try out their prototype, the only ultimate on the ranks to the highest sporting level.

More power, more confidence
Ideal to enjoy, backdrop measure and analyze more closely the development potential offered by the latest Ocean multihull. "This Route of the Princes, it was that the bonus. Technically, we draw many lessons. First the boat is reliable, we did encounter a structural concern. Since the ferry between Lorient and Valencia, it is very clear we have much gained in speed. Near of course, two knots about as it noted Matthew (Souben), but it is also true under all points of sail. We have learned to use the boat", detailed Lionel Lemonchois. And add: "on this platform genre, in the beginning, there is always a little trouble border fort, while we should! This race, which has allowed to climb to power, also made us many gain confidence. We were able to validate many things, the deck including, plan even if it remains full of prospects to explore. This type of boat, it is a permanent laboratory! "

Mission immediate performance
Serene after this first full-scale test along the European coasts, satisfied to have finished on a high note in the Bay of Morlaix - before the bows of the MOD 70 after three weeks hanging from their rear tables! -It is with conviction that Lionel Lemonchois therefore approach the new construction programmed for the Maxi80: 'it is some time now that I think about the need to make the tilting mast. The three weeks of racing against the MOD, equipped with this type of rigging, have enabled us to properly gauge this is a solution to adopt, and us have confirmed this choice. Being able to tilt the mast in the wind - which allows to the close to relieve the platform and less boat sinking - it is a true guarantee of immediate performance gain. Including Act!" He explains.

Top departure site
For Lionel and his team, after three weeks of every moment between Mediterranean Regatta and the Bay of Morlaix, it's a new race that starts. For this run of a month about side construction speed, Lionel can count on a small guard close very invested in the development of the boat. Jacques Roudot immediately resumed service to play the role of interface between the team and external stakeholders. Among them, Quentin Lucet firm of naval architects Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prévost, and the engineers at Hervé Devaux Structures - who worked on the installation of the mast salvaged from the former 60 feet on its new 80-foot platform - load more specifically to the spar. Bambino (François Denis), navigating to the position of number one, and permanent in charge of the rig, is of course the part about this "swinging pole" mission, prior to the release of Prince of Brittany, thus optimized, early August. ��

Appointment to the Fastnet
Appointment is indeed already taken for the inevitable, and the legendary Fastnet Race, which mobilizes this year, departing from Cowes on August 11, a prestigious plateau of 380 boats to do battle on the 605 miles of the route to Plymouth via the legendary rock of the Celtic Sea. Among maxi multihull expected, Prince de Bretagne will be very keen to shoot the first fruits of his freshly mast tilting at this biennale and great classic of the offshore racing.