Outlining the plans of the Spindrift racing team, Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard unveiled the new colours, design and program of the maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 today (Tuesday 2 March) at Lorient. The former Banque Populaire V, the boat is the largest racing trimaran in the world and holder of nine world records, including the Jules Verne trophy. Spindrift 2 will start a summer racing program of records and training to allow Bertarelli and Guichard intimate knowledge and control, with a view to rewrite the big records in sailing.
 
The boat has a new coat of black, white and gold, styled like its stable mates. All the Spindrift racing team has spent time during Route des Princes working on optimising a boat that was tried and tested, but Bertarelli and Guichard want to apply the latest technology to improve performance wherever possible. A new rig is on the way, with a lighter mast suitable for the record campaign. “We will reduce the sail area and are seeking the perfect balance between weight and power in order to make performance gains,” Guichard explained.

The new colours
“[The design] was the work of the team with conversations between Yann, Christophe Schmid, our graphic artist and Jean-Baptiste Epron,” Bertarelli told us. “The implementation of the design was carried out largely by Léo Lucet, Antoine Carraz and our technical team, who have been actively involved so the result met with my expectations. It was about finding a harmony between three boats in the team, so that at first glance one can recognise their stable. I also wanted a clean design, that was both elegant and unconventional for such a huge boat. The colours black, white and gold were already decided. These colours define us well ; black: competitiveness, determination, commitment, strength, surpassing yourself; white: purity, wisdom, discipline, team spirit, sharing ; and gold: the elegance, femininity, passion, the exceptional, originality, great feats, the colour of victory.”
 
The summer racing season
As well as his Olympic pedigree, Guichard is also one of the undisputed specialists in oceanic trimarans. He learned his trade on the now defunct ORMA-class trimarans, before becoming one of the leaders of the new MOD70 class, with which he won the championship in 2012. “Spindrift 2 takes us in a whole new dimension,” Guichard said. “We want to take the time to tame this giant of the seas without any shortcuts.”

The team will make its debut at the Rolex Fastnet race. The trimaran knows the way from Cowes to Plymouth via southern Ireland, since it already holds the record for the event. Then the amount of sailing will steadily increase to prepare for the record campaigns in the  coming years.

“We have given ourselves four years to mature and establish new record times over the most significant courses,” Bertarelli explained. The objective is to optimise a new sail plan for the Jules Verne Trophy. “The current mast is suitable for particular records such as the 24-hour or the North Atlantic. The Route du Rhum in 2014 is an opportunity that we are studying.”

2013 program
 
Rolex Fastnet
Under the colours of its former owner (Banque Populaire V), the boat is the record holder of the event, with a time of 1 day 8 hours and 48 minutes, at an average speed of 18.1 knots.
 
The Discovery Route – Cadiz (Spain) to San Salvador (Bahamas)
The record time belongs to Groupama 3 (Franck Cammas) and was established in May 2007 in 7 days 10 hours 58 minutes and 53 seconds.
 
Transatlantic return
An attempt for the 24-hour distance record (90 miles, 37.8 knots average) set by Banque Populaire V.
 
The Channel Record between Cowes (England) and Dinard (France)
A record held by Maiden 2 (Brian Thompson) since 2000 in 5 hours 23 minutes and 38 seconds, at an average speed of 25.60 knots.

For more, visit www.spindrift-racing.com