PRESS KIT TEAM FONCIA / 2010 & FRANCOIS GABART

CONTENTS

1. MICHEL DESJOYEAUX p.2 2. FRANCOIS GABART p.4 3. THE BARCELONA WORLD RACE p.5 4. AGENDA p.7 5. THREE QUESTIONS, THREE INSIGHTFUL ANSWERS p.8 6. TEAM SPONSORS p.9 7. CONTACTS p.10

APPENDICES p.11 o TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE OPEN 60 FONCIA o PLAN OF THE OPEN 60 FONCIA

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1. MICHEL DESJOYEAUX Age: 45 – Resides: La Forêt-Fouesnant (29) - France Lives with his partner and three children

Conceive it, design it, build it and race it… this is the essence of Michel Desjoyeaux. As a child, he clambered all over the family boatyard in Kerleven, building dreams of boats with bits of string, and living imaginary adventures at the far end of the mudflats. In the space of 40 years, he has become the most crowned solo offshore sailor. The childhood games became serious, the technical innovations were tested for real, and the results… uncompromising. The Transat, the , the (three times) and lastly the Vendée Globe (2 times). Strangely, the only trophy missing from Michel’s cabinet is the Mini Transat. Strangely also, this record of achievements, which most sailors would consider more than enough, has still not satisfied the racer in him. He is as focussed as ever on delivering results, as curious as ever about technology and the details which transform a standard race boat into a true winning machine.

BEST OF MICH’

2010 2004  6th in the Route du Rhum on FONCIA  1st in The Transat on Géant (Orma) (Imoca) 2002 2009  1st in the Route du Rhum on Géant  1st in the Istanbul Europa Race on (Orma) FONCIA (Imoca)  2nd in the Record SNSM on FONCIA 2000/01 (Imoca)  1st in the Vendée Globe on PRB  1st in the Bol d’Or Mirabaud with Alain (Imoca) Gautier on FONCIA (D35) 1998 2008/09  1st in the Solitaire du Figaro on TBS  1st in the Vendée Globe on FONCIA (Figaro) (Imoca) 1992 2007  1st in the Solitaire du Figaro on Groupe  1st in the on Coupechoux Design (Figaro) FONCIA (Imoca)  1st in the Transat Ag2r with Jacques  1st in the Solitaire du Figaro on Caraës on Sill Plein Fruit (Figaro) FONCIA (Figaro)  1st in the Record SNSM on FONCIA (Imoca)  3rd in the Ecover-BtoB Transat on FONCIA (Imoca)

To this day, Michel Desjoyeaux is the only sailor to have won the four major solo races: the Solitaire du Figaro, the Vendée Globe, the Route du Rhum and The Transat.

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2. FRANCOIS GABART Age: 27 - Resides: La Forêt-Fouesnant (29) - France Lives with his partner

Unstoppable… François Gabart is a talented young man. Having spent a mere three years racing on the Figaro circuit, the time it took for him to be crowned French Solo Offshore Champion, he has now moved straight up to the next level. On the 4 th of December, his sponsor Macif offered him an Open 60 (sistership to FONCIA, currently in build under the management of Mer Agitée), on which he will be able to fulfil his craving for offshore racing up until 2014, including the Vendée Globe.

François Gabart will celebrate his 28th birthday on the 23rd of March 2011, during the Barcelona World Race. 20 years ago, he sailed across the Atlantic on the family boat, a Kelt 39, with his parents and two sisters. Since this formative voyage, success seems to have come easily to this INSA-educated engineer. Even at an early age, his blonde mop and blue eyes were often to be seen on the podium in the Optimist, Moth Europe and Tornado classes.

Having joined the Figaro circuit in 2007, he very quickly mastered the boat, culminating with a second place finish in the Solitaire du Figaro and victory in the Cap Istanbul this summer. However, for this native of Charentes, who had carried the colours of Région Bretagne and was the winner of the Macif selection trials, one-design racing was just one step along the way. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, he raced first with , then Michel Desjoyeaux, to get to know the big round the world boats. He will soon be skipper of his very own monohull.

François is thus a young man in a hurry. But calm. “I can do things quickly, and do them well,” he replies with a smile to those who express concern about his rapid rise. “It is all happening very fast, I realise, but I am living an incredible dream. I need to make the most of it now”. His talent, sheer determination and especially his enormous capacity for work are precious attributes which will help him accomplish his ambitions. He sees himself somewhat of an Asterix character: “like me, he is small, blonde and… strong”. In other words, quite a man.

BEST OF FRANÇOIS

2010 2006/2007

 French Solo Offshore Champion  2nd in the Cap Istanbul with Laurent  1st in the WOW Cap Istanbul Pellecuer  2nd in the Solitaire du Figaro  1st in the Tour de France à la Voile (student classification) 2009  London – Nice on the trimaran Sopra (ORMA)  Winner of the Sélection Skipper Macif trials 2010 1997 - 2005  3rd in the Transat BPE  3rd in the French Solo Offshore Racing  Olympic campaign in the Tornado Championship class (2001-2005)  2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre with  Tornado Youth World Champion 2003 Kito de Pavant on Groupe Bel  4th in the Moth Europe Youth French Championship 2000 2008  Moth Europe French Champion 1999  Optimist French Champion 1997  Skipper Espoir Région Bretagne  1st rookie in the Solitaire du Figaro

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3. THE BARCELONA WORLD RACE

For the second edition of this non-stop, unassisted round the world race, equivalent to a double-handed Vendée Globe, there will be a fleet of fifteen Open 60s in Barcelona for the start on the 31st of December. Outstanding sailors such as Jean-Pierre Dick, winner of the first edition, and Michel Desjoyeaux and Loïck Peyron will be competing, but there will be strong competition from the Spanish contingent who will want to put in a good performance for their country. The duos will race eastabout around the world, leaving the great capes to port: Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), Cape Leeuwin (Australia) and Cape Horn (Chile) before racing back up the Atlantic Ocean to the finish line in Barcelona, over a distance of 25,000 miles.

Michel announced last June that he would be taking on this round the world race with François Gabart, a rising star in French offshore racing. This is not just a pairing of two solo competitors, two Figaro sailors, but also two generations. “To compete in the Barcelona World Race wih Michel Desjoyeaux, and on a new boat on top of that, is outstanding for me. I don’t think it’s possible to do better”, François said back in June. “His youth, fresh approach, intellectual ability, and permanent desire to understand things […] He raises the game”, Michel stated.

This dynamic pair will have but one goal: to stamp FONCIA’s name on the event.

THE COURSE

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THE BARCELONA WORLD RACE IN NUMBERS

> Start 31st December 2010 at 1302

> Finish expected end March 2011

> 25,000 miles (46,300 km) via the three great capes – Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn – and the Cook Strait (between North and South Island, New Zealand)

> 30 competitors (3 women ; 27 men)

> 8 Nationalities: 13 Spaniards, 10 Frenchman, two British, one Swiss, one New Zealander, one Pole, one German and one American

> 15 boats:

- VIRBAC-PAPREC 3 : Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) / Loïck Peyron (FRA) - HUGO BOSS : Alex Thomson (UK) / Andrew Meiklejohn (NZ) - MIRABAUD : Dominique Wavre (SUI) / Michèle Paret (FRA) - FONCIA : Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) / François Gabart (FRA) - GAES CENTROS AUDITIVOS : Dee Caffari (UK) / Anna Corbella (ESP) - ESTRELLA DAMM : (ESP) / Pepe Ribes (ESP) - CENTRAL LECHERA ASTURIANA : Juan Merediz (ESP) / Fran Palacio (ESP) - GROUPE BEL : Kito de Pavant (FRA) / Sébastien Audigane (FRA) - NEUTROGENA : Boris Herrmann (GER) / Ryan Breymaier (USA) - MAPFRE : Iker Martínez (ESP) / Xabi Fernández (ESP) - FMC – FÒRUM MARÍTIM CATALÀ : Gerard Marín (ESP) / Ludovic Aglaor (FRA) - RENAULT : Pachi Rivero (ESP) /Antonio Piris (ESP) - PRESIDENT : Jean Le Cam (FRA) /Bruno García (ESP) - WE ARE WATER : Jaume Mumbrú (ESP) / Cali Sanmartí (ESP) - FRUIT : Kris Owczarek (POL) / Armand Coursodon (FRA)

> Event Record: 92 days, 9 hours, 49 minutes, 49 seconds at an average speed of 11.13 knots (PAPREC-VIRBAC 2; Jean-Pierre Dick - Damian Foxall)

> 24 hour Record on an Imoca boat: 501.3 miles (Hugo Boss; Alex Thomson - Andrew Cape at an average of 20.9 knots)

> Speed Record: 27.4 knots (Temenos II; Dominique Wavre - Michèle Paret)

RESULTS FROM THE FIRST EDITION

1. PAPREC-VIRBAC 2; Jean-Pierre Dick - Damian Foxall: 92 days, 8 hours, 49 minutes, 49 seconds 2. HUGO BOSS; Alex Thomson - Andrew Cape: 94 days, 17 hours, 34 minutes, 57 seconds 3. TEMENOS 2; Dominique Wavre - Michèle Paret: 98 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, 10 seconds

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4. AGENDA OF FONCIA

16th December:  End of sea trials

17th December :  12h30 : Press Conference - First meeting for the media with all skippers.

18th December :  Opening of Moll Barcelona World Race,  Start of technical, sporting and safety equipment inspections  Presentation of skippers to the city of Barcelona

28th December :  10h00 : Schools visit skippers  Barcelona World Race dinner with the presence of all the skippers and the Mayor of Barcelona.  Homage to Eric Tabarly, for his influence on the evolution of the ocean , design and construction of racing yachts, by his family, friends and companions of navigation. (Hotel W – Great Room - Moll de Llevant, 4 – Pg. Joan de Borbó – Barcelona)

29th December :  11h30 : Official Press Conference pre-start, with all the skippers. (Expo main stage, Moll Barcelona World Race)

31st December 2010 :  13h02 : Start of the Barcelona World Race

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5. THREE QUESTIONS, THREE INSIGHTFUL ANSWERS

François is about to embark on his first race around the world. Michel is preparing to tackle his fourth lap of the planet. Naturally, the former has some questions concerning this novel challenge, and the latter has precious experience to offer his co-skipper.

The pre-start period

François: “I asked Michel about how to organise one’s time, to fulfil media requirements during the week before the start. But also the personal and emotional challenges during the week before the start. I know that I need to prepare myself for it.”

Michel: “We are fortunate to be surrounded by people whose role is partly to set limits, and protect us. There are set times where we are left in peace (to sleep, to spend time with family), and set times for external business. The demands on us are numerous, and must be managed. And you need to remember that the closer we get to the start, the more time we spend studying weather and immersing ourselves in . So there really isn’t much time to spend with all the friends who will come to Barcelona to visit us…”

Wardrobe

François: “What clothes does one take on a round the world race? What should I pack in my bag? This is a subject which has come up a fair bit …”

Michel: “The real issue is the salt, the true enemy of the offshore racer. The things which you are prepared to do on a leg of the Figaro (staying in your wet salty clothes) should be strictly forbidden on a round the world race, or you will end up with a very irritated backside. You have to be extremely strict about going between the inside of the boat and on deck, make sure you get rid of the salt, dry yourself before going below deck, don’t go on deck to manoeuvre in your underwear…”

Strategy of attack or defence?

François: “Which are the key strategic points of the course, where Michel has previously won or lost; how to manage risk and the pace to set depending on a particular part of the race course; what are the key moments where it is worth going totally flat out and those where it isn’t worth it? These are also matters we have discussed.”

Michel: “It’s closely linked to the weather and depends on the tactical option. That apart, we know that there are key moments, like the Doldrums for example. But in these stages, you could be on the attack or on the defence. It’s the same in the Southern Ocean. The aim is to complete the three months of racing in good shape (crew and boat), because it’s entirely possible that it could all come down to the final section of the race, back in the Mediterranean.”

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6. TEAM FONCIA – SPONSORS

Title Sponsor

Technical Partners

Technological Partners

Official Suppliers

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7. CONTACTS

Website: http://presse.teamfoncia.com E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +33 (0)1 47 72 81 41 Fax: +33 (0)1 47 72 81 16

TEAM FONCIA MEDIA TEAM

Laurence Dacoury / Head of Media Relations Mob: +33 (0)6 18 41 30 28

Stéphanie André / Press Officer Mob: +33 (0)6 34 18 66 54

GROUPE FONCIA SPONSORSHIP COMMUNICATIONS

Julien Benoist E. [email protected] 13, avenue Lebrun 92188 Antony Cedex France

CONSULTING AGENCY

François Lamotte / Windreport’ T. +33 (0)2 40 84 30 00 E. [email protected]

MER AGITEE - OFFSHORE SAILING TEAM

Jean-Paul Roux / Mer Agitée T. +33 (0)2 98 56 82 85 E. [email protected]

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APPENDICES

A1. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE OPEN 60 FONCIA

Official Name FONCIA Designers VPLP - Guillaume Verdier Build facility CDK Technologies - Mer Agitée Project management Mer Agitée Engineering HDS – Mer Forte

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Length 18.28 m Beam 5.90 m Draft 4.50 m Displacement 7.8 t Mast / type of rig Wing mast with deck spreaders Air draft 29 m Total upwind sail area 300 m² Total downwind sail area 660 m² Hull/materials Carbon - Nomex Other appendages 2 asymmetric daggerboards Rudders 2 lifting Keel / materials Carbon foil, lead bulb Gennaker 65 kg for 250m² Big spinnaker 50 kg for 420 m² Solent 65 kg for 135 m² Trinquette 45 kg for pour 85 m² Number of ballast tanks 6 Ballast volume 4.5 t per side

INNOVATIONS/EVOLUTIONS “Seagull wing” deck shape Sheerline as chine

Increased angle on the daggerboards to obtain lift

Rudders and cases easily interchangeable

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A2. PLAN OF THE OPEN 60 FONCIA

1. MAINSHEET TRACK: Circular track for the mainsheet 6. THE DAGGERBOARDS: The two lateral daggerboards vang, for accurate trim and control (twist). are controlled from the cockpit. These appendages are used one at a time, and help the boat go to windward 2. MAINSAIL: Primary sail on the boat, with three reefs so (preventing leeway). that the sail area can be reduced in bad weather. 7. THE BULKHEADS: There are several bulkheads which 3. “COFFEE GRINDER”: Located in the middle of the split the boat into watertight compartments with access cockpit, the coffee grinder (winch handles on a pedestal) hatches (sail compartment…). They prevent water from drives the four winches used chiefly for hoisting and flooding the entire boat in the event of a collision. trimming sails. 8. COCKPIT PROTECTION: A protective hatch which 4. THE KEEL: Adapted and used for the first time on a slides out from over the cabin top to provide protection for custom offshore race boat in 1991 by Michel on the Mini the skipper in bad weather. It covers the working area of Transat, the canting keel can now be found on all recent the cockpit and the helming station. Imoca Open 60s. The keel is controlled with a hydraulic ram, and can be canted to approximately 40° each si de. It 9. RIG: Wing mast supported by two deck spreaders is the main means of righting the boat if inverted (the (spreaders protruding from the cabin top) for better ballast tanks also help with righting). aerodynamics.

5. THE RUDDERS: Long and fine, these are for steering 10. LIVING AREA: Area containing bunks for resting, the the boat, and they kick up if there is an impact. The skipper “galley”, stowage of food and spares. Attached to the often lifts the windward rudder to reduce drag in the water. bulkhead by an articulating arm, the “satellite” containing They are controlled either by the helmsman, or the all the electronics can be moved around: it houses the autopilot. computers, the main communication systems and pilot systems. All navigation and weather strategy analysis takes place here.

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