11/2009 –

VPLP are celebrating a victorious Transat Jacques Vabre this year, with Franck Yves Escoffier driving their Formula 50′ trimaran Crêpes Wahou! to cross the finish line first after 15 days, 15 hours, 31 minutes and 50 seconds. He was followed soon after by the first of the monohull fleet: theVPLP / Verdier IMOCA 60 Safran (finish time15 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, 10 seconds). Her sister ship Groupe Bel skippered by Kito De Pavant with François Gabart took 2 nd place for the monohulls with a time of 16 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes and 30 seconds. They were 8 hours 40 minutes and 20 seconds behind Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier on Safran.

For naval architects who honed their expertise in multihull design for over quarter of a century [read our aticle], it is quite a breakthrough to have such blatant success in the monohull market. This success is the fruit of collaboration with the design office of Guillaume Verdier. It is a synergy of ideas and experience that has proved to be harmonious in the design office, innovative on the drawing board and successful on the race course. It is no wonder that following in the path of Marc Guillemot (skipper of Safran – winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2009) and Kito de Pavant (2 nd place in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2009) Jean Pierre Dick and Vincent Riou will also arm themselves with a VPLP/Verdier design sponsored by Paprec-Virbac and PRB respectively for the next season. As expressed by Vincent Lauriot Prévost who met the three boats on their arrival in Costa Rica : “What could be more rewarding for an architect then to hear the three winning teams compliment and prise the boats they have raced to victory? We could not have hoped for a better result ? ”

Architects VPLP on NauticNews.com

Photo Credit : VPLP / AFP-Mochet

-PR-