A makeover for Group Bel !

The launch of Groupe Bel in Port Camargue, on Monday morning, marked a new step towards the Transat Jacques Vabre. After the summer yard work, which began at the end of July, the monohull skippered by Kito de Pavant, has not only been given a makeover, but now looks completely different with a modification to its roof. This new configuration will make sailing more comfortable for Kito and Yann Régniau in the Transat Jacques Vabre, which will leave on 30 October 2011, in weather conditions, which at this time of year can be strong. In the meantime, the Group Bel crew is preparing for an intense session of double-handed training, starting on 19 September, before they set a course for Le Havre, in early October, to deliver the boat.

D-47 before the big day...

To begin this new phase of preparation for the Transat Jacques Vabre, which Kito de Pavant and Yann Régniau have been waiting for impatiently, Port Camargue pulled out all the stops: a sunny blue sky and bearable heat, thanks to a light northwesterly breeze. Everything was united this Monday, for the Groupe Bel launch to go particularly well. Keeled, masted, there are only two days of finishing touches left for the technical team before the boat with the smiling Cow returns to the joys of sailing in the Mediterranean. “Now there's a good thing done! We are all very happy to see Groupe Bel back at sea after the intense activity this summer. We have done some very important yard work, which has solved certain problems and made some new developments to the boat. We can now take to the starting line of the Transat Jacques Vabre confidently. We have followed our play mates at a distance, in the summer races, and I can't wait to be back on the road to competition, and to confront the new Groupe Bel with the other contenders at sea", explains Kito.

A facelift before returning to sea !

You might have noticed that before returning to the water, Groupe Bel has undergone a makeover! The roof modification was one of the objectives this summer and so it is with two new “ears”, as Kito calls them, that the monohull will set off on new sea-faring adventures. Improving the protection of the helmsman while maintaining the boats aesthetics; the result is convincing! "I am very sensitive about the appearance of a yacht and I didn't want to alter the nature of Groupe Bel's lines. We tried to do something light and efficient. We have added two domes to improve the run-off above the helmsman, so that he doesn't take on too much water. The eye, through which we can see what's ahead, is a little larger than the previous one and the roof itself is higher. I am really satisfied; however, we still need to confirm this at sea. Protecting oneself is easy, but being able to see is essential! The helmsman must always have his eye on the waves, the streamers and the sails".

Cramming

From 15 September, it will be over to technical tests and small post-yard work tuning, such as the calibration of the electronics and making the equipment more reliable. Next week will then mark the continuation of the training sessions in "Transat Jacques Vabre" configuration, with at least two 36-hour sessions at sea, specific days devoted to double-handed maneuvers, and finally the last tests on the new sails. "We are going to use some of the Route du Rhum sails, but we have also have had several forward sails made: a Solent, a Code 0 and an all new breeze sail", says the Groupe Bel skipper.
No respite in the days to come! Whether on shore or at sea, the crews will be working to ensure that the Transat Jacques Vabre preparation is perfect. The start will take place in one month and a half. In the meantime, let us wish the red and grey monohull a happy birthday. On 6 September, she celebrated her fourth year since she was launched in 2007, in Italy!