Navigator François Gabart, holder of the single-handed round-the-world record, launched his new giant trimaran on Thursday, called “
SVR-Lazartigue
”, with which he intends to break new records.
“
It's a great moment, something very symbolic, very emotional.
We are very proud to show this new boat, which we find very beautiful,
”Mr. Gabart told AFP, a few minutes after the trimaran was launched in the port of Concarneau (Finistère).
The construction of this maxi-multihull of the Ultim class, 32 meters long and 23 m wide with a mast culminating at 35 meters and equipped with foils (lateral appendages allowing the sailboat to rise above the surface of water), was initiated in March 2018 with Macif, then a partner of the skipper.
The French cosmetics group Kresk, chaired by Didier Tabary, which notably owns the SVR cosmetics brands and Lazartigue hair products, has bought the boat, as part of a 4-year partnership.
For this new capri blue boat, efforts focused on improving aerodynamics and the shape of the appendages, explained François Gabart, also emphasizing “
different choices in terms of ergonomics
”.
The cockpit is thus integrated into the central hull.
"We're here to try to win races, to break records."
After static tests, François Gabart hopes to be able to sail aboard this new trimaran as of next week, in order to prepare with Tom Laperche for the next Transat Jacques Vabre, whose departure is scheduled for November 7 in Le Havre.
“
We're here to try to win races, to break records.
The goal is to push the boundaries of what we think is possible.
We are convinced that the boat will live up to this ambition,
”said François Gabart.
Weighing 15 tonnes, the trimaran required two and a half years of design and construction, 150,000 hours of work, and is due to be christened on September 20 at Concarneau.
In June 2020, Macif decided to end its collaboration with François Gabart, prime contractor for the new Ultim via his company Mer Concept.
The future boat was therefore for sale (between 10 to 12 million euros according to estimates) and Mr. Gabart worked to find a buyer for a year.
This is a first for the Kresk holding, launched in 2006, which had never yet embarked on either sponsorship or patronage.
