03/2010 –

On March, 11th, Vincent Riou and team PRB assembled at Port la Foret to launch the new IMOCA 60’ designed by  VPLP / Verdier.

The bright orange beast was lowered into the water under the expert eye of Hubert Desjoyeaux who built the carbon racing machine at CDK Technologies.   A healthy crowd of enthusiasts lined the dock to watch PRB take to the water, including sailing stars Sam Davis and Jean Le Cam.

Vincent Lauriot Prévost and Xavier Guilbaud, who are responsible for the design work at VPLP stood beside Guillaume Verdier and watched with careful attention as PRB undertook the required 180 ° self righting test. As her keel canted, PRB rolled easily upright and Vincent Riou, emerged from within the watertight interior,  totally at ease, dry and unflustered (unlike many of the onlookers who gasped as the substantial bulb keel gave them a good splash down and instigated a spontaneous round of applause!)

PRB benefits from having evolved through Safran and Groupe Bel (IMOCA 60′ also by VPLP/ Verdier), so although she comes out of the same hull moulds, the design is differentiated, specifically in the striking roof form and deck plan; the rig configuration and the design of the appendices as well as in many structural aspects.

As VPLP / Verdier confirmed “Vincent (Riou) has collaborated with our Design Team to evolve our original concept and the result is that we have created, effectively, a new generation of IMOCA 60”.

Tags on NauticNews.com : PRB – IMOCA – VPLP

Photo Credit : PRB/ Benoît Stichelbaut

-PR-