laurent bourgnon catamaran

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• By Mary South
• Updated: July 14, 2009

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It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that Swiss yachtsman Laurent Bourgnon has been sailing since he could walk-he crossed the Atlantic with his parents at the age of four-and he has held more records than a jukebox: He made the first transatlantic crossing in a Hobie Cat at age 20. On another occasion, he also set what was a world record, at the time, for a solo transatlantic passage, with a speed of 7 days and 2 hours. Included in that time was a record within a record-a 24-hour run of 538.7 nautical miles that averaged 22.44 knots! He’s been aboard multiple winning boats on the Fastnet, came in second in the mini-Transat, has won the Route du Rhum and Figaro races, and was named FICO-Lacoste Skipper of the Year five times. So, clearly, this is a sailor who likes solo adventure and speed in equal measures.

But the trip that influenced him perhaps more than any other was the five-year circumnavigation he made with his family at the tender age of 11. Now, after years of setting records, winning races, and pushing the sailing envelope, Laurent Bourgnon is ready for something different: an adventure with his own family. He and his wife Caroline wanted their children Jules, Justine, Basile, and Loupette to see the world and learn firsthand about the ocean and ecology. They also wanted the kids to learn to speak Spanish and English and to appreciate other cultures. And Laurent, who had spent so much time sailing solo, also yearned to get the family that had always awaited him on terra firma out on the sea to learn the art and share the joys of navigation and cruising.

In some ways it’s unsurprising that instead of going the obvious route and setting off on a sailboat, Laurent decided to take up yet another challenge on his family vacation. He approached Sunreef Yachts, of Gdansk, Poland, well-known for their sailing catamarans, about building their first custom powerboat. It was Bourgnon’s belief that a powerboat could circumnavigate as economically as a sailboat and, with Sunreef’s naval architects, he went to work creating the yacht that would prove it. Jambo is the luxurious but economical 70-foot expedition powercat that is the result of this collaboration.

“The powerboat is obviously much easier to handle than a sailboat,” explains Bourgnon, “especially for one person only. I’m the only one on board with sailing experience…I love to sail, but this experience is more like a new home for us, so the objective and means are different.”

The Bourgnon family set off from the south of France for the Cape Verde Islands in November 2008. This first, short run of 19 days, with stops in Spain, Morocco, and the Canary Islands along the way, provided an interesting start for the adventure- allowing the family to fall into the rhythms of life aboard. The children had school lessons to complete each day and send by e-mail to teachers. Much of the time, the weather was rough but hardships were forgotten when they had their first encounters with bottlenose dolphins, African sunrises, and catching their own dinner.

The Bourgnons wanted to linger in the Cape Verde Islands but Laurent knew that they needed to head for Brazil, then south, in order to cross the Strait of Magellan near Tierra del Fuego, while the weather was still favorable. They reached Fernando de Noronha island, off Brazil’s northeast coast, on December 10, and spent three days exploring this ecological wonderland and UNESCO World Heritage site. After Fernando de Noronha, they stopped in Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, and Santa Catarina, in the south of Brazil. They celebrated New Year’s here, enjoying some foie gras and Bordeaux amid the magnificent scenery, then they burned off the calories with plenty of snorkeling, diving, and windsurfing. Next, they moved on to Uruguay’s famed Punta del Este, known as the “St. Tropez of South America,” where they arrived on January 8, 2009. They didn’t linger long, moving on to Buenos Aires, where they met up with some friends to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Argentine capital for a week.

Continuing their trip down the coast of Argentina, Jambo explored the Valdez Peninsula, famous for its mild ocean breeze and warm climate, despite its proximity to the frigid southern latitudes-it was a warm sendoff to Patagonia’s less-hospitable climates in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.

“The weather while entering the Patagonia channels was not easy,” confided Bourgnon. “Fifty to sixty knots wind forward, pretty cold. Jambo is very stable and safe but my family, not used to such conditions, needed a moment to get used to it…” The scenery, luckily, was not just distracting, but jaw-dropping, as they navigated past massive blue icebergs and desolate-looking shoreside villages.

In Puerto Montt, Chile, Jambo was reprovisioned and prepared for the trip to Robinson Crusoe Island. From there, Team Bourgnon went directly on to Easter Island, with no calls. They crossed the Pacific in fair weather, stopping in the Gambiers and Tuamotu. In Papeete, the two elder children flew to France to spend holidays with their friends.

Jambo is now in Raiatea, which Laurent calls “paradise on earth.” In fact, the original one-year plan has gone completely out the porthole. The entire Bourgnon family is planning to stay here for the next year to explore Polynesia-the kids are even enrolling in local schools. “I hope that this trip will teach them tolerance, openness, and to appreciate what they have,” remarked Bourgnon.

Asked about the high point of the voyage so far, Bourgnon admits to no single moment but points to what a great experience it’s been to share all this time with his family. “Traveling together, discovering new things together, watching the kids happy, and interested by all the surrounding world…the experience is great.”

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O-Yachts, rethink the catamaran for fast cruising

Despite its 19.50 m, the O-Yachts Class 6 should only weigh 13 tonnes. A light weight that will give it performance worthy of a racing yacht. Discovery of the preliminary project.

On the strength of his experience, Laurent Bourgnon had a good idea about what would be the "ideal catamaran". Before getting lost in diving , he had participated in the development of a 64-foot sailing project with the O-Yachts shipyard .

The construction site in Latvia (at Engure near Riga) is managed by a Frenchman. With Laurent Bourgnon (a friend), they imagined a catamaran whose efforts are taken up again on a central beam that is not installed across the road (as on many current cruise catamarans) but rather longitudinal (in the axis of the road). A kind of 3 eST PRIS DANS LE GROS TEMPS, ET TANGUE DE GAUCHE ?ROITE, SECOUÉ PAR LES VAGUES. UN HOMME, SANS DOUTE UN PÊCHEUR QUI PARTICIPE À UNE SESSION DE PÊCHE SPORTIVE, PASSE PAR-DESSUS BORD, DE MANIÈRE ASSEZ IMPRESSIONNANTE. central shell that takes all the effort. This type of assembly can be found on GC32 racing catamarans or even on future America's Cup sailboats.

Thus the mast and forestay return to this central edge, a kind of spinal column. This installation allows a large floor area without being hindered by the cross beams.

Class 6 was designed by the shipyard's in-house design office assisted by the local architectural firm Schickler Tagliapetra - Isvoranu. Built with large carbon reinforcements, it is announced with a light weight of 13 t. It is intended for a couple, a candidate for the long journey who are looking above all for the pleasure of fast sailing without compromising comfort at anchor .

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News | Yachtsman Laurent Bourgnon reported missing…

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News | Yachtsman Laurent Bourgnon reported missing after dive

The Papeete rescue center in Tahiti said the 49-year-old Bourgnon, who twice won the Route du Rhum trans-Atlantic sailing race, was diving on his own. Crew members and passengers of the boat alerted emergency services on Wednesday when he did not return.

Marie Baville, the cabinet director for the head of Polynesia’s governing council, told The Associated Press that Bourgnon organized the trip with tourists on his boat, which was anchored in the Toau atoll, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Tahiti in the Tuamotu Archipelago, when the incident happened.

“This is not a particularly dangerous area,” Baville said.

She added that the search for Bourgnon, which involved a helicopter, was called off at night and was set to start again early Thursday.

Bourgnon, whose brother Yvan this week completed a sail around the world on a 20-foot (six-meter) boat without on-board accommodation, is one of the most accomplished sailors of his generation.

Yvan Bourgnon said he will join the research crew “to look for my brother night and day, as long as there will be hope. Laurent is a fighter, I know he can hold out several days adrift in the open sea.”

After a cruise around the world with his parents in his teenage years, Laurent Bourgnon crossed the Atlantic for the first time in 1986, on a small Hobie Cat catamaran with his friend Fred Giraldi. He won the Solitaire du Figaro in his first attempt two years later.

Bourgnon secured a third-place finish at the Route du Rhum in 1990 before winning twice in a row in the race from Brittany to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in 1994 and 1998.

Bourgnon also competed in car rallies, including the Dakar Rally several times in the early 2000s.

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70 Sunreef Power Catamaran JAMBO breaks records in fuel economy

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Written by Mike Smith

Power catamaran JAMBO in Tahiti

This exceptional yacht was conceived by Sunreef Yachts with the help and advice from Laurent Bourgnon, a famous sailor with a wealth of experience in catamaran regattas. His expertise has been invaluable in the design of the first Sunreef power yacht. All other semi-custom yachts from the Sunreef power line have maintained the same hydrodynamic and performance-oriented line of the 70 footer.

Power catamaran JAMBO - Tahiti Reef

The luxury expedition catamaran JAMBO was designed to undertake round-the-world trip in the most comfortable conditions and using the lowest amount of fuel possible. The yacht is currently cruising around Raiatea, French Polynesia, where the Bourgnon family has been settled for a while and enjoys the relaxed local lifestyle.

Sunreef 70 Power catamaran JAMBO

The fuel consumption was originally 13 litres/ hour/ engine at 10 knots at 2,300 RPM. Following structural and technical modifications made by Sunreef Yachts (installation of water bulbs of 5.5m, and additional aft swimming platforms, increasing the JAMBO’s LOA to 85feet) and other companies (remapping of the engines for optimal use, and new sustainable and smooth antifouling), these numbers have been significantly reduced. The consumption now is 7.5 litres/ hour/ engine at 10 knots at 1,500 RPM, or 15 litres /hour!

Power catamaran JAMBO South Pacific

“Thanks to the remapping of the engines, they now generate 420HP (instead of the original 370HP each), increasing the maximum speed to 22 knots. To cruise at a top speed of 22 knots, JAMBO needs 160 litres/ hour for both engines at 3,400 RPM, which is a very good result,” confirms Laurent Bourgnon.

Yacht JAMBO in Tahiti

Power catamaran Jambo can be chartered here .

Example Itinerary/ Budget/ Fuel Consumption/ Range

Port Camargue (South of France) – Puerto Montt (West Coast of Chile): Distance: 8,500 nautical miles Time: 1,000 hours (with several stopovers along the way) Total fuel consumption: 15,000 litres, or 1,000 hours x 15 litres per hour at 10 knots (Lower consumption on the Atlantic Ocean due to good currents; higher consumption in the Patagonian channels with opposing currents, strong wind and speed reaching 15 knots to reach safe harbour for the night)

Consumption per mile: 15,000 litres divided by 8,474 miles = 1.77 litres per hour Range at 10 knots with 20,000 litres = 11,300 nautical miles Budget : 15,000 litres at 0,50 Euros: 7,500 Euros

To continue from Puerto Montt to Raiatea, JAMBO needed only 5,000 litres of the total 20,000 litres of its reserves.

A perfectionist to the last, Laurent is still working on improving JAMBO’s performance and fuel efficiency. He is now working on new propellers, which are far more efficient that the original ones. Another remapping of the engines is also planned. The proposed changes will further increase the top speed, and bring an additional 20% improvement in fuel consumption. All together it makes the 70 Sunreef Power the best yacht for travelling to the most remote places around the world at a reasonable cost while maintaining luxury and maximum safety.

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "70 Sunreef Power Catamaran JAMBO breaks records in fuel economy".

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Laurent Bourgnon : adieu, Petit prince de l'Atlantique

«  C’est pas l’homme qui prend la mer, c’est la mer qui prend l’homme  », chantait Renaud en 1983. Et Mercredi 24 juin, la mer a emporté le navigateur Laurent Bourgnon, lui prenant la vie au large de l’archipel des Tuamotu en Polynésie française.

Dimanche 12 juillet, une quinzaine de bateaux se sont rassemblés dans la baie de Matavai, à Tahiti, à la mémoire de Laurent Bourgnon. Au son des cornes de brume, ses proches et une centaine de personnes ont lancé à la mer colliers et couronnes de fleurs.

Deux jours plus tôt, la communauté de la voile tahitienne faisait de même à Raiatea, haut lieu de la navigation des Iles-Sous-Le-Vent. Laurent Bourgnon y avait vécu pendant cinq ans avec sa famille.

Le 29 juin, le Haut-Commissariat de la République de Tahiti annonçait l'arrêt des recherches, l'espoir de retrouver le marin s'étant éteint. Yvan Bourgnon avait toutefois décidé de continuer à rechercher son frère, vainement.

Avec un l’un des plus beaux palmarès du monde de la voile, Laurent Bourgnon était unanimement considéré comme un surdoué par ses pairs. Le navigateur franco-suisse, 49 ans, avait toutefois abandonné la compétition depuis quelques années pour se consacrer à l’organisation de croisières de luxe.

Une croisière fatale

Mercredi 24 juin, Laurent Bourgnon effectue une croisière privée sur son voilier. Il est accompagné de plusieurs vacanciers. Ils plonge près de Toau, un atoll proche de Fakarava en Polynésie française. Le site est en effet l'un des plus renommés au monde.

La plongée aurait eu lieu dans le lagon, à proximité de la passe Est, où les courants peuvent être forts. A l’issue de la séance, les autres passagers du bateau l’ont attendu, en vain. Laurent Bourgnon était parti de son côté, tandis que les croisiéristes étaient avec le moniteur de plongée.

Un palmarès hors-norme

Laurent Bourgnon, héros de la mer. Il avait  remporté la mythique Route du Rhum, reliant Saint-Malo à Pointe-à-Pitre en Guadeloupe, en 1994 et 1998. Mais aussi la Solitaire du Figaro (au large des côtes françaises), dès sa première tentative, en 1988. C'est d'ailleurs cet exploit qui lui donne l'envie de passer sur des multicoques. A la barre de ces engins, il enchaîne les succès.

Les trimarans Orma (multicoques de 18,28 m) sont les machines de course au large les plus sophistiquées au monde, les plus dangereuses aussi. Mais Laurent Bourgnon va très vite s'imposer dans cet exercice de haute voltige. Y compris face aux coureurs français (Loïck Peyron, Franck Cammas), qui affectionnent particulièrement ces bolides marins. Le navigateur est ainsi victorieux de nombreuses autres courses prestigieuses : La Baule-Dakar (1991), Québec-Saint-Malo (1992) ainsi que la transatlantique Twostar (reliant Plymouth à Newport en 1994) et Transat Jacques Vabre (1995), en double avec l'Américain Cam Lewis.  Avec son frère Yvan, lui aussi passionné d'aventures océaniques, il gagne la Transat Le Havre-Cartagène (Colombie) en 1997.

Il décroche également le titre de champion du monde de course au large à trois reprises (1994, 1995 et 1997).

Une enfance à parcourir les océans

Originaire des montagnes du Jura suisse, il découvre la mer à l'âge de 4 ans, en 1970, sur le voilier de ses parents à l'occasion d'un périple de deux ans dans les Caraïbes. Adolescent, il effectue, toujours en famille, un tour du monde à la voile qui durera trois ans.

En 1986, âgé de 20 ans, il effectue, avec son équipier Fred Girald, une première traversée de l'Atlantique sur un catamaran Hobbie 18 de 5,40 m. Une aventure rocambolesque compte tenu de la taille de l'engin de plage.

Il enchaîne ensuite sur la Mini Transat, course transatlantique en solitaire, sur un monocoque de 6,50 m. Il finit 2e, en 1987, après avoir gagné la 2e étape face à des voiliers, a priori, plus rapides.

Un sportif accompli

Mais la vie de Laurent Bourgnon ne se résume pas à la voile. Le marin est aussi un sportif polyvalent. Il a notamment participé à plusieurs rallyes-raids comme le Paris-Dakar entre 1999 et 2005. Passionné de technique, attentif au moindre détail, il se sert de son savoir-faire dans l'aéronautique pour mettre au point un biplace de voyage rapide et doté d'une très grande autonomie.

Fin juin, celui que l'on surnommait le Petit prince de l'Atlantique aura finalement été emporté, éternellement, par la mer. Elément qu'il avait pourtant su apprivoiser et dompter toute sa vie.

Un dernier hommage lui sera rendu en métropole le 25 juillet à Agon-Coutainville. C'est dans ce village de Normandie que Laurent Bourgnon avait rencontré son épouse Caroline.

Published on June 25th, 2015 | by Editor

Laurent Bourgnon, leading Swiss sailor, missing

Published on June 25th, 2015 by Editor -->

Papeete, Tahiti (June 25, 2015) – Leading Swiss yachtsman Laurent Bourgnon was reported missing by authorities in French Polynesia today after a diving incident.

The Papeete rescue center in Tahiti said the 49-year-old Bourgnon, who twice won the Route du Rhum trans-Atlantic sailing race, was diving on his own. Crew members and passengers of the boat alerted emergency services on Wednesday (June 24) when he did not return.

Marie Baville, the cabinet director for the head of Polynesia’s governing council, told The Associated Press that Bourgnon organized the trip with tourists on his boat, which was anchored in the Toau atoll, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Tahiti in the Tuamotu Archipelago, when the incident happened.

“This is not a particularly dangerous area,” Baville said.

She added that the search for Bourgnon, which involved a helicopter, was called off at night and was set to start again early Thursday.

Bourgnon, whose brother Yvan this week completed a sail around the world on a 20-foot (six-meter) boat without on-board accommodation, is one of the most accomplished sailors of his generation.

Yvan Bourgnon said he will join the research crew “to look for my brother night and day, as long as there will be hope. Laurent is a fighter, I know he can hold out several days adrift in the open sea.”

After a cruise around the world with his parents in his teenage years, Laurent Bourgnon crossed the Atlantic for the first time in 1986, on a small Hobie Cat catamaran with his friend Fred Giraldi. He won the Solitaire du Figaro in his first attempt two years later.

Bourgnon secured a third-place finish at the Route du Rhum in 1990 before winning twice in a row in the race from Brittany to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in 1994 and 1998.

Bourgnon also competed in car rallies, including the Dakar Rally several times in the early 2000s.

Source: Associated Press

Tags: Eight Bells , Laurent Bourgnon , tragedy

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Irens 123 / Laurent Bourgnon

Caractéristiques :

Longueur : 36.25 m

Largeur : 18.00 m

Poids : 20.00 t

Hauteur du mât : 54 m  

Tirant d'eau :  

Matériaux : Carbone / Kevlar

Surface de voile au près : 650  m²

Surface de voile au portant : 1335  m²

Architectes : Nigel Irens

Chantier : Technologie Marine, Mag France, JMV , DCN Lorient

Mise à l'eau prévue : 1999

Histoire et palmarès :

Le projet démarre en 1994 après la victoire de Laurent Bourgnon sur la Route du Rhum sur son ORMA60 Primargaz. En avril 1998 la construction des moules est lancé à la Trinité sur Mer chez Technologie Marine.

Le budget estimé pour pour l'ensemble de la campagne est de 80 millions de francs dont 32 affectés à la construction à proprement parler. En juin 1998, près de 30 % du budget est réuni auprès de cinq partenaires Epson, Kindy, Accord, OMAPI, Larrivière et Primagaz qui a financé l'ensemble des études. mais un sponsor principal, qui donnera son nom au catamaran signé Nigel Irens est recherché.

Long de près de 38 mètres, ce catamaran aura une longueur hors tout de 42 mètres avec le balestron en carbone qui supportera les voiles d'avant, l'étrave fait 4.50 mètres de haut. Le mât fait 54 mètres de haut et la bôme mesure 17 mètres !

Laurent Bourgnon en juin 1998 : "Les gabarits des moules des flotteurs sont spectaculaires. Pour vous dire l'ampleur du truc, ça me rappelle quand je  suis passé du Hobbie Cat avec lequel j'ai traversé l'Atlantique en 1986, au trimaran Primagaz en 90. Il va falloir que je m'habitué car c'est impressionnant, je suis heureux".

En novembre 1998, Laurent Bourgnon dévoile son programme, avec les grands records sur les routes historiques : Records de l'Atlantique, Route du Thé, New-York/San Francisco, Trophée Jules Verne, mais annonce qu'il ne sera sans doute pas prêt pou être sur la ligne de départ de la première édition de The Race. Le temps pour prendre en main un tel multicoque lui semble trop court.

Dans le projet figure aussi qu'à chaque tentative, sera associé une personnalité médiatique. La première personne qui devrait faire partie de l'équipage est Richard Branson le patron de Virgin.

Malheureusement faute de sponsor principal, le projet en restera à la construction des moules. Moules qui resteront quelques années à l'arrière du chantier Technologie Marine.

Security / Comfort / Performance Finally combined !

You no longer need to chose between, charter catamaran offering comfort with bad sailing capacities, or performance catamarans with very limited comfort. class 6 finally offers both worlds., thanks to the innovative central wave piercing (“spine concetp”), you enjoy an xxl 44m2/475sqft living area on platform, ready to customize your style. more than space, this wave piercing device enhance security, offering more buoyancy to keep the bow up, ʻʼunquestionably, o yachts fills an otherwise unoccupied niche – for the moment – in the world of luxurious and ultra fast catamarans. its class 6 manages to combine speed, ease of handling, and safety, in a living space previously reserved for big cruising boats.ʼʼ comment from multihulls world sea trial, clic on below link to get option pricing and configure your class 6. you will realize we are also competitive with pricing.., class 6 comes from the collaboration between dan levy & laurent bourgnon . we wanted create the largest catamaran designed for a couple to go sabbatical without a skipper., security becomes factor #1. “ spine concept” is the exclusive answer, spine concept  to offer comfort & security, security : , reduce the impact in waves by driving water into the two tunnels wihtout any sharp angle., additonal buyancy from the spine keeps the bow up., extra rigidity from full carbon (stern to bow)., extra hull. the spine becomes a third hull in gales., we place the mast ideally centered without scarifying living area., greatly improved sea motion, spine concept / how to, classic catamarans use transversal bulkhead to spread the mast load. forward of bulkhead is deck, back of bulkhead is saloon area. to offer comfort, charter oriented catamarans move this mast bulkhead forward, where performance catamarans keep it centered.  spine concept allows us to perfectly center the mast as we do not use transversal bulkhead but carbon longitudinal beam., • greatly improved sea motion, • manageable main sail (same as 53ft), • huge living area, luxury is space, 44m2/475sq.ft on wetdeck – 100% custom interior, create your own layout for :, forward cockpit, saloon/kitchen/chart table area, endless layouts, feel free to express yourself we build the interior and layout of your choice after the hull and deck have been infused. owner, family and friends will feel like home with an interior that reflects your style., perfect finish we use skilled sub contractors to supply quality leather sewing (car industry), hand made anodized aluminium, talented carpenters … all panels and furnitures are made with unique o yachts «savoir faire» to keep weight down., 3 steps to create yours, step 1 : o yachts create 2d plans from discussions, step 2 : professional interior designer (from finland) after discussions create complete 3d to give you realistic render for approval, step 3 : o yachts create your interior from 3d to 2d cnc and skilled craft man. , living space, an apartment with sea view, on average cruising boat spend 90% of their time at anchor, thanks to the spine concept and the centered mast, we can exploit the area forward of the mast to create a large living space with a dining area, a chart table or a sofa lounge. we can even raise the floor in part of all of the interior cockpit to offer you unobstructed views to the sea. your imagination is the limit. the huge volumes offered on the main deck gives you ample space to create large and separate areas for your galley, chart table, dining and lounging areas, cockpit area, unrivaled space in its category . so many options for cockpit :, table any size, lage bench with lockers, bbq & sink, stairs to steering… ., forward cockpit, design your own options, bench with lockers + seats, for those who like to relax. at your request, we can build a full carbon flybridge without compromising the performance of your catamaran. two design options are offered., flybridge lounge, you can stay seated or tanning when sailing. you can stand up only at anchor or marina. this option is perfect for pleasure oriented catamarans., flybridge sun bed area, in this option you have large sun bed area with full carbon wind protection around., appendages keel or daggerboard, daggerboard pro, better upwind angle about 5% gain., better overall performances due to minimized drag about 4%. •, positive lift with asymetric curved daggerboard option, free payload. following archimedes principle, the additional volume offered by the keel pushes the boat up, allowing extra payload while keeping the boat in its lines.., almost as efficient as a vertical daggerboard with 13kts wind., very simple compared to daggerboard management., good protection for propeller & rudder., possibility to land (easy repair)., more space for interior as you have no daggerboard casing., appendages keel or daggerboard keel draft1.45m / 4ʼ9ʻʼ daggerboard draft 1.25m / 4ʼ2ʼʼ (draft may depend upon rudder design), long transom for safe boarding, your private dock. easy boarding from your tender to your catamaran thanks to our extra long transom that acts as a dock., light carbon aluminium platform, enjoy this option. simple and great at anchor. prevent your tender from swinging at sea and fun at anchor. available for lightweight tenders only., interior class 6 #2.

Exterior Class 6 #2

Amazing performances / Racing pedigree

Two mast options ., race mast for ultimate performances and be a serious contender for line honors, performance mast for short handling usage while keeping exceptional performances., speed is security with our slim and almost vertical bow flare, the class 6 is clearly designed for speed. when a strong gale is coming, your best option is to stay ahead of the low pressure system. only a fast catamaran will let you escape from a bad weather forecast. class 6 is intrinsically fast ; while most performance catamarans will need huge sail areas to achieve speeds in the high tenʼs, class 6 will sail at close to 20 knots with a smaller sail area which makes it more user friendly and safer. when pushed, class 6 can reached speeds over 20 knots easy, performance easy / without skipper, spine concept with center mast offers 109m2 main sail same as 53ft. that is excellent for solo sailing. you will mainly use forward triangle for jib / drifter / code0 / gennaker. , simple to use with furlers, better … we usually propose to reduce self tacking jib and install drifter forward. this sail is magic with medium wind to sail upwind (sheets tack inside the shrouds for perfect angle). this drifter is easy to launch alone and go faster than wind (6.3kts with 4.8kts wind proven). if you want to even go much faster, you will use gennaker or code0 with some help from crew., sail class 6 solo, hydraulic option for solo sailing, hydraulics powers it all with this option, we use hydraulic to power all systems. we save on weight and we are more efficient than electric. thanks to hydraulics you can manage class 6 alone without help(except genaker and code0). •in boommainsail furling • main sail sheet management, boom lift management x 2, mast rotation (rotativemast option), front sails furling : jib – genoa – genaker, •load pressure management, winches and windlass remain electric. this configuration has been validated on hull #2., 3 options :, 100% diesel : 2 yanmar 80hp on sail drive, smart hybrid : 1 yanmar 80hp on sail drive + 1 electric engine 20kw, 100% electric : 2 electric engines 20 or 30kw. we recommend to install dc 48v diesel generator for security..

Diesel engines only

Smart Hybrid

Electric engines

Made in Quality

With 13.5t to 15t light displacement, class 6 is one of the lightest in the world for its category. weight is key to offer pleasure and security at sea., carbon structure : with o yachts quality is not an option, structure is always carbon., spine (32 layers of carbon), kevlar shield : hulls are also kevlar shield reinforced from center to bow, 8 inchs over the waterline., hand lamination : all non structural panels (floors, sofa, kitchen, stairs, cabinets…) are made from infused panels, then connected to structure via hand lamination. this are hundred of labor, but this will make your class 6 solid as a rock., quality is not an option. class 6 are always 100% carbon structure ., below 100% carbon hull option., specifications.

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Un catamaran léger c’est un catamaran marin. sans parler de performances, un catamaran léger donnera du plaisir. le plaisir de naviguer à la voile à 7kts dès 5kts de vent réel alors que les autres sont au moteur. le plaisir d’aller vite (et surtout sans efforts) dès que la brise monte pour rejoindre sa destination et profiter des meilleurs places au mouillage. aller vite pour se dégager du mauvais temps (gage de sécurité). sans parler de l’équilibre sous voile pour plus de confort en mer formée, la légèreté est le graal des catamarans pour aller vers un cercle vertueux : moins de poids / moins d’efforts  –  moins d’efforts / moins de renforts – moins de renforts / plus de légèreté…  ceci à un prix ce sont des centaines d’heures supplémentaires pour chasser le poids, réaliser l’ensemble de votre class 4 en panneaux infusés puis les stratifier à la main (pas de collage facile et rapide avec des panneaux non structurels). pas de vaigrage rapporté pour cacher la misère   ces vaigrages qui rajoutent un poids non négligeable et où les cafards des tropiques adorent faire leur nids. ce sont donc encore des centaines d’heures à enduire et poncer plusieurs fois pour une finition gelcoat ou un placage de 0,8mm de bois naturel. pour le structure, il faut utiliser des mousses de qualité et réduire un minimum les ajouts de résines cette mousse. ce sont encore des heures de travail pour ne pas utiliser des mousses quadrillées buveuses de résine. l’utilisation du carbone pour la structure devient une obligation et non une option., c’est la question classique pour nous, c’est à vous de choisir en fonction de votre programme car nous proposons les deux solutions. afin de vous aider dans le choix, voici un petit comparatif avec les avantages de l’un qui sont donc les inconvénients pour l’autre., dérives (chez o yachts elles sont 100% carbone), + meilleur cap au près de 5° entre 3 et 10kts de vitesse. + meilleur vitesse mais à 0,0x près, quilles (chez o yachts elle sont naca), + echouage possible sans risque + protection du sail drive moteur en cas de choc. + 250kg de charge supplémentaire (cf poussée d’archimède) + pas d’appendice mobile source de tracas potentiel, conclusion   : si vous voulez gagner une course les dérives sont une obligation pour assurer le podium.  si vous faites de la croisière ou de la course locale, les dérives sont un gage de tranquillité. dès 10kts de vitesse la différence de 5° d’angle en remontée au vent diminue voir disparaitre (13kts) car les quilles deviennent dès lors redoutables d’efficacité. , nous avons déjà réalisé un class 6 #1 avec une propulsion électrique. configuré en smart hybride avec un moteur électrique et un autre diesel. le poids léger de class 6 en fait le candidat idéal. il faut toutefois savoir que ces systèmes sont plus complexes et n’offrent pas la légitimité de millions de bateaux navigant au diesel. o yachts reste très motivé par les résultats et les dernières avancées. nous pensons que le choix electrique en smart hybride ou full electrique est réaliste sur nos class 6 ; dès lors que vous ajoutez une génératrice diesel dc 48v pour des raisons de sécurité. , vous payer votre catamaran en fonction de l’avancement réel avec transfert de propriété avec chaque appel de fond.  si vous devez faire appel à du financement, nous travaillons avec plusieurs organismes qui sauront vous faire une simulation en fonction du budget, de votre apport initial et la durée de l’emprunt., nous avons toujours une coque en construction au chantier. il faut entre 9 mois et un an pour finaliser votre projet. , nous travaillons en collaboration avec plusieurs partenaires capables de vous offrir de nombreux services une fois le class 4 livré. des places de port sont toujours disponibles en france sur plusieurs zones ainsi qu’à l’étranger (principalement italie et grèce)., en premier lieu il faut faire une configuration sur internet afin que nous puissions comprendre votre profil. puis nous pouvons organiser un essai en mer selon les disponibilités ou vous proposer la location., class 6 is “multihull of the year 2021” and “readers choice”, subscribe to our newsletter.

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O Yachts Class 6

Safety at Speed

Dan Lévy launched O Yachts with the Class 4, a design by Lerouge, and he has followed this success up with the Class 6 , a design that is turning heads and making waves in the catamaran industry. The O in O-Yachts stands for Owner – these are catamarans that are developed with their owners in a partnership with the yard.

Dan’s first aim from his Latvian base, northeast of Riga, is to produce yachts that protect their owners from anything that the weather can throw at them, and that can eat up the nautical miles offshore safely, at speed. The Class 6 is setting high standards. This is a world cruiser that is competing strongly with the likes of the Garcia Explocat 52 and the HH range.

Like the O-Yachts Class 4 , this bigger boat is a catamaran for sailors and their families who want to travel big distances over an extended period of time in safety and comfort. It’s a very spacious yacht that is capable of fast cruising in a controlled fashion, whatever the state of the sea.

Keeping the Weight Off With a length of 19.50m (64 foot), the O-Yachts Class 6 weighs only 15 tonnes light. Go for the full carbon option and this number comes down to 13.5.

Dan Levy, along with Laurent Bourgnon (sadly no longer with us, double winner of the Route du Rhum, as well as the Transat Jacques-Vabre  with his brother Yvan), dreamt up this catamaran whose signature feature is a spine or longitudinal central beam that provides the boat with rigidity, stability and buoyancy in steep waves. The mast and forestay are fixed to this structure and the design allows for a large 44 square metre living space unhindered by cross beams.

Keel or Boards? In light winds, the Class 6 will sail at wind speeds and over. Make your own wind for more sailing and less motoring! The large, curved dagger-boards (an option, you can also specify keels) give a draft of 3.8 meters or 12½ feet when down, helping the Class 6 to pinch upwind, particularly in calmer conditions.

A Luxury Sporty Cat

The first priority of this boat is safety at sea, but make no mistake – this is a comfortable catamaran that goes places fast (and gets you out of trouble quickly). Performance means safety and 300 nm a day in good conditions is the target on this boat.

There is more than 44 m² (473 sq ft) of living space in the nacelle. Who needs a flybridge increasing your windage and forcing your sail and centre of effort higher?

High Tech Construction

Talk to Dan Levy, and this is clearly an area that he is passionate about. One of the keys aspects of producing a safe boat is strength, so the Class 6 has been “over engineered” in this respect. There is a spectrum of materials you can choose from, depending on your wish list and budget. These range from Vinylester resin/carbon-glass-kevlar/Gelcoat on the Performance pack to Epoxy resin/100% carbon + kevlar/paint on the Race pack.

Weight control is a big factor in the design of these yachts, so  carbon fiber is used for all the outer and inner skins. Foam is inserted into this sandwich, and the whole packagage is vacuum infused with epoxy and reinforced with Kevlar in high stress and potential impact areas.

This all-carbon construction gives a light displacement of 15 tons, with an ability to carry loads up to a total weight of 18 tons. The spine means that there is no forward crossbeam, and it gives an impressive rigidity to the narrow hulls. The axe bows are also designed to efficiently pierce through waves and space is maximised through the use of chines.

With the curved daggerboards option and lifting rudders mounted in a well, the draft can be reduced to 0.9 m (3 feet).

Sailing – Safety First

Examples include a rotating mast and carbon boom with hydraulic furling system. The staysail, genoa and gennaker, can also furl hydraulically. The sail plan emphasises the priority of this yacht which is safety. You will be matching wind speed with the main and XL Genoa (104m2) in light air (3 to 10kts). With a Code 0 or Gennaker flying off the bowsprit, you will be sailing faster than TWS.

The steering systems can be configured as wheel steering or tiller steering with seats.

Mainsail, Genoa, Solent and Storm Sail The O Yachts Class 6 typically comes with a mainsail and genoa which can be unfurled with a press of a button. You will have a variety of lighter wind sails to fly off the bowsprit (Code 0, 280 m² gennaker, also on hydraulics). With these flying you will be faster than wind speed on a reach in calmer conditions. With the sheets coming back to hydraulic winches at the helm, it doesn’t take long to furl the genoa and deploy the self-tacking staysail if the wind picks up. And this being a safety first boat, there is an option for a storm sail as well.

Centred Mast Another benefit of the spine is that it has enabled the designers to set the mast further back than you would normally see on a comparable catamaran. This is a trick more recently used by Gunboat on their 68 to achieve a balanced sail-plan, and it means that the main sail area is only 109m2 (or 1173.27 sq) ft in favour of more sail area up front: which is easier to manage of course. The centralised mast position also helps to give a stable, smooth ride.

Living Space

This is an  area where the Class 6 excels. The saloon/cockpit area is 44 m² or 475 square feet, a huge living space with an enormous galley. This is a French designed boat after all.

The sliding window at the back of the saloon opens right up to give you an Open+ design. Down below, the berths are wide with island beds in the aft cabins thanks to those chines. Forward, the berths are arranged athwartships and higher up, in order to accommodate the performance of the bows. Foam sandwich is used in the furniture to keep the weight down.

That said, the choice is yours on this boat: pick one of the following options:

– Fixed keel (Simple, more buoyancy) – Daggerboards – Asymetric daggerboards – Curved Asymetric daggerboards

The whole idea of the Class 6 is to keep the engines off, but how does she perform coming into the marina?

She Motors Well, the Class 6 comes with twin 80 HP Yanmar engines. You will begin to appreciate the shape of those hulls, as with these running at 2,500 rpm, you will be pushed along at ten knots in a steady sea, using around 11 litres per hour (2.9 US gal/h).

Use half the fuel and only one engine and you will cruise comfortably at 7 knots.

The O Yachts Class 6 competes in a hot market segment:  luxury fast catamarans. But what sets the Class 6 apart, is its emphasis on safety and comfort.

Yes, this boat is fast, but that’s almost a by product of this innovative design. The living space feels like a New York apartment. The boat has been kept light, is rigid and has a punchy sail plan (without being overpowered).

If you are looking for a yacht to take you long distances, the Class 6 ought to be on your shopping list. Dan claims that the Class 6 is the best catamaran a couple can manage without skipper. It is hard not to agree with him.

There is even a power version, with a Smart Hybrid power unit (one diesel engine, one electric).

For more information on the Class 6, head to O-Yachts .

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Luxury Catamaran

World leading source of information on luxury cruising multihulls

April 17, 2009

Laurent bourgnon around the world aboard jumbo the sunreef 70 power.

Laurent Bourgnon et sa famille sur le 70 Sunreef Power – La grande aventure continue. LES DEBUTS ET LES OBJECTIFS DU PERIPLE Parti en voyage autour du monde en famille après le salon de Plaisance à Cannes en Septembre 2008, Laurent Bourgnon a passé par le détroit de Magellan au sud du Chili et vient d'arriver sur l'île de Robinson Crusoe dans l'océan Pacifique. Cinq mois se sont écoulés depuis que sa famille a embarqué à bord du 70 Sunreef Power JAMBO à Cannes. Que d'aventures déjà veçues, d’endroits visités, de nouvelles amitiés nouées! Le grand projet de voyage en famille autour du monde, scrupuleusement plannifié pendant des années peut désormais se réaliser. JAMBO, bateau sur mesure spécialement conçu pour un voyage autour du monde en famille, est un yacht à moteur exceptionnel à tout point de vue. Luxueux et fonctionnel, JAMBO est un yacht aux moteurs écologiques avec une consommation de carburant minimale d’à peine 2 litres par mille nautique. Il a consommé seulement 9000 litres de carburant entre Cannes et Punta Arenas en Patagonie!. Doté de réservoirs de gasoil de 20 000 L (!), le bateau peut effectuer de longues traversées maritimes. Respectant une vitesse de croisière de 8 à 10 noeuds de moyenne, JAMBO possède une autonomie de 20 000 milles nautiques, ce qui est un évenement dans le monde du yachting. Encore une fois, Laurent Bourgnon rélève un défit qui prouve qu’un bateau à moteur peut se révéler écologique. Une fois partie de Cannes, la famille Bourgnon est restée au sud de la France jusqu'au début du mois de Novembre pour faire les préparatifs de ce long voyage qu'ils ont prévu pour les années à venir. L'objectif: la découverte du monde par le milieu marin et l’apprentissage de l'art de navigation pour toute la famille, qui jusqu'à maintenant n'avait pas eu une grande experience dans ce domaine, Laurent étant le seul professionel à bord. Désireux de faire découvrir la richesse du monde à ses enfants, de mobiliser l'apprentissage des langues étrangères dans les conditions du contact direct, ainsi que passer plus de temps avec se proches après des années de courses en solitaires, Laurent vient de commencer la belle aventure... Quelques mois seulement après le lancement du 70 Sunreef Power au chantier naval de Gdansk en Pologne, le voyage tellement rêvé a pu commencer. La famille a donc quitté la France le 8 Novembre 2008, direction le Cap Vert. QUITTER l'EUROPE Avant de débarquer au Cap Vert, ils ont fait escale à Porto de la Duchesse en Espagne, petit port pittoresque dans lequel ils ont passé une nuit. Premier défit pour les enfants: communiquer en espagnol! Avec l’anglais, l'apprentissage de l'espagnol sera un des objectifs de formation pour la progéniture de Laurent et Caroline Bourgnon. Les Bourgnon ont ensuite fait une halte à Gibraltar avant se rendre à ESSAOUIRA au Maroc où ils sont arrivés le dimanche 16 Novembre au lever du soleil. „Charmant petit port de pêche ou plûtot grand port de pêche...des cinquantaines de bateaux entrent et sortent du port tous les jours. Les petits ne savaient plus s'ils devaient parler anglais, français ou espagnol.” raconte amusé Laurent Bourgnon. Accompagnés d’amis, jusqu'à ce moment-là, ils se sont retrouvés tous les six pour le reste du voyage. Laurent et sa famille ont donc quitté Essouira le 22 Novembre dans la journée. Ils ont fait une traversée jusqu'aux Canaries avec petite escale à PUERTO DE MOGANE à la recherche d’un cyber café, pressés d'envoyer les premières photos à leurs proches.. Après une journée sur place ils sont repartis vers le Cap Vert atteint 4 jours après, le 27 Novembre 2008. Pour des raisons météo, la traversée s’est avérée être un peu pénible pour la famille Bourgnon qui n'avait pas encore pris d'habitude de la mer. Il n'était pas non plus facile de faire l'école pour les enfants...Cependant, la merveilleuse compagnie des dauphins pendant la plupart du trajet a su atténuer l'effet des turbulences maritimes. Autre petit plaisir:la premiere dorade corifène d'environ 1 metre a été pêchée à la traine! Les activités de la mer ont commencé à prendre place au bord de Jambo...La famille s'est habitué au nouvel entourage et a pris conscience des trésors alimentaires dont abonde l'océan. VERS D'AUTRES TERRES L'escale au Cap Vert était vraiment inoubliable grâce à de belles rencontres, toujours un peu brèves. Il a fallu toutefois se diriger vers le sud pour passer le détroit de Magellan à la bonne saison. Le 5 décembre 2008, ils étaient déjà à mi chemin entre le Cap Vert et le Brésil. Là, il commencait à faire vraiment très chaud. Tout se passait bien, confirme Laurent. „La mer est belle, pas de mal de mer à bord, l'équipage s'amarine tranquillement”. Le 7 décembre 2008 Laurent relate :”Nous arrivons vers le pot au noir, il n'y a plus de vent , l'atmosphere est lourde et très chaude, la mer est belle, le coucher de soleil a été splendide”. Ils se sont ensuite dirigés en direction du récif de coraux brésilien, et selon la météo, l'arrêt était prévu sur l'île de Fernando de Noronha atteignable en trois ou quatre jours. Le grand moment qu'est le passage de l'équateur s’est produit le 8 décembre au soir. A partir de ce moment-là, l'équipe se préparait à toucher des vents de secteur Est; Sud Est.(vent de travers) jusqu'a l'arrivée au Brésil . Arrivés le 10 décembre sur cette perle de l'Atlantique sud qu’est l’île de Fernando de Noronha, île centrale de l'archipel de 21 îlots à 350 km de la côte brésilienne, ils y ont passé deux jours en profitant des paysages époustouflants. L'île, ayant un statut du Parc Naturel et inscrite sur la liste du patrimoine mondiale de l’UNESCO, est un bel exemple de développement durable, la faune et la flore y sont très protegées, le recyclage et le contrôles des baignades y sont pratiqués. Ils sont repartis le 12 décembre au matin en direction de Salvador de Bahia qu'ils ont atteint après trois jours de navigation. „Le matin au réveil, tous les animaux marins semblaient s'être donnés rendez vous autour du bateau pour nous dire au revoir. Sous les yeux eberlués de Justine (fille aînée de Laurent), un groupe de dauphins nous a présenté un balai de sauts et de vrilles pour notre plus grand bonheur”, raconte Jules, fils aîné de Laurent. Le monde maritime cache des merveilles innombrables, les Bourgnon en tirent un plaisir infini : „Hier nous avons plongé au milieu de centaines de tortues. Loupette ( fille cadette de Laurent) est maintenant très à l'aise avec le masque et le tuba, et n'en crû pas ses yeux lorsqu’une raie d'un mètre d'envergure est venue lui dire un petit bonjour. Quant à Jules et Basile, ils ont aperçu leur premier requin avant hier.” De plus, ils avaient eu le plaisir d'y retrouver un ami : Patrick TABARLY qui, lui aussi, effectue un tour du monde, mais par étapes. Il aurait fallu rester au moins un mois dans cet endroit magique pour profiter au maximum de sa beauté. Cependant, voulant respecter l'itinéraire établi au début de leur périple, les Bourgnon sont partis vers le sud afin de passer par le détroit de Magellan le plus tôt possible. Ils ont quitté Salvador de Bahia, superbe ville ancienne coupée du reste du monde par une chaîne des montagnes, le 19 décembre pour rejoindre une petite baie paradisiaque au Sud de Rio où ils ont décidé de se poser un peu entre Noël et le jour de l'an. Ils ont aussi fait de nouvelles rencontres, notamment une famille avec 4 enfants comme eux, „C'était super de voir les enfants échanger et jouer aussi spontanément.” dit Caroline. Après s'être arrêté à Paraty, superbe ville coloniale brésilienne, pendant quelques jours, ils ont repris la route en direction de Santa Catharina où ils devaient arriver le 29 décembre. Ils ont bien aimé cet endroit très pittoresque, un mélange entre les Seychelles et ses gros blocs de granit, les Marquises avec sa végatation luxuriante et le golfe du Morbihan, pour ses îles et ses canaux. Une halte "loisirs" à Santa Catharina au Brésil (sud de Rio) pour profiter des jeux de mers avant un nouveau départ a fait du bien à toute famille qui tout en visitant de merveilleux endroits, reste consciente qu'il faut profiter de la bonne saison pour passer de l'autre côté de l'Amérique du Sud. La fin de l'année 2008 a été également célébré à Santa Catharina d'où ils avaient encore plusieurs jours de mer avant d'atteindre le détroit de Magellan. „ Nous avons passé un jour de l’an en famille, tous les 6 sur l’île de Santa Catharina au Brésil avec un bon petit foie gras, une bonne bouteille de Bordeaux mais sous une forte pluie… „ relate Laurent. La famille a repris la mer en direction de l’Uruguay et plus précisément à destination de Punta del Este où ils sont arrivés le 7 janvier 2009. Punta del Este est une grande station balnéaire avec de gros yachts. C’est ici que viennent beaucoup d’argentins pendant leurs vacances. Ses plages sont l'un des centre touristique majeur d'Amérique du Sud. La majorité des touristes sont originaires d'Argentine et du Brésil voisins mais il y a aussi des Européens et des nord-Américains. La ville possède pas moins de 122 hôtels, 80 restaurants, un aéroport international et un port de loisir pouvant accueillir 500 navires. En pleine saison (c’est-à-dire en janvier), la population de la ville peut être multipliée par environ 55, atteignant alors 400 000 habitants. Pour cette raison, la ville est surnommée la « Saint-Tropez » d'Amérique Latine. La plage de La Brava qui est sous le vent est celle principalement utilisée pour la pratique du surf alors que celle de La Mansa où il n'y a pas de vagues est la plage fréquentée par les familles. Arrêt suivant: Buenos Aires, capitale mondiale du tango. Laurent y attendait ses amis du Dakar, qui arriveraient le 18 janvier en ville. Un grand plaisir pour cet amoureux du rally Paris Dakar organisé cette année en Argentine et au Chili. La famille y est donc restée une semaine environ pour profiter de belles journées entre amis, ainsi que pour découvrir cette ville passionante qu'est Buenos. ATTEINDRE LES EXTREMES ET REPARTIR ENCORE L’escale suivante a eu lieu sur la presqu'île de Valdès en Argentine. C'est un endroit paradisiaque pour la faune marine qui est très variée et abondante. Des baleines, des Lions marins, des otaries à crinière peuplent les eaux océaniques. La péninsule a une situation climatique particulière: elle est abritée des pluies par la cordillère des Andes, et bénéficie de son environnement marin. Laurent confirme cette situation: „Même si la température reste clémente, et si c'est l'été ici, l'idée de voir des phoques et autres mamifères marins nous rappelle que nous continuons à descendre dans les latitudes sud pour nous rapprocher du Cap Horn, que nous ne franchirons pas, mais dont nous approchons.” Pénétrant en Patagonie, la famille Bourgnon et Jambo, font escale à Punta Arenas au Chili et ensuite à Puerto Natales, parcourant les somptueux canaux patagoniens riches en icebergs bleus et en paysages époustouflants parsemés des villages isolés habités par la population indigène. Les Bourgnon ont ensuite longé la côte chilienne jusqu'à Puerto Mont. Avant d'atteindre Puerto Mont, la dernière étape du contournement de l'Amérique du Sud, JAMBO s'est arrêté à Puerto Eden, un village miniscule avec ses habitants intrigués par cette famille de voyageurs venant curieusement à leur rencontre dans le port. Les conditions météo extrêmes poursuivent JAMBO depuis le début de son passage par la Patagonie : „Nous sommes bloqués depuis plusieurs jours a cause de la succession de dépressions qui amènent des vents qui atteignent facilement 60 noeuds de nord Ouest et beaucoup de pluie. Il ne fait pas chaud à l'extérieur, entre 5 et 8° le jour, et autour de 0° la nuit. Il nous faut donc mettre le chauffage...alors que nous sommes en été ici ! Ce sera notre hiver à nous ! „ - relate Laurent. La famille Bourgnon a opéré la traversée de la Patagonie à une période encore propice et se prépare actuellement à l'étape suivante du voyage à Puerto Mont avant de rejoindre l'île Robinson, l'île de Pâques, les Gambiers et plus tard les rivages de la Polynésie Française. La côte Chilienne a été quittée le 5 mars 2009, direction: île Robinson Crusoe, atteinte en 5 jours... Jumbo passe haut la main cet examen, le bateau est fiable sous un climat équatorial, sous les tropiques, ainsi que sous un climat subarctique, et qui sait, ce qui l'attend encore? La suite du periple prochainement. Charter Jambo Catamaran with Windward Islands.

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Hello, I have a question for the webmaster/admin here at www.blogger.com. Can I use part of the information from this blog post right above if I provide a link back to this site? Thanks, William

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Famous Swiss sailor Laurent Bourgnon missing in French Polynesia

Famed Swiss sailor Laurent Bourgnon has gone missing while diving in French Polynesia, local authorities report.

Laurent Bourgnon was travelling on his yacht with four guests and three crew members in the Toau Archipelago, about 400 kilometres from Tahiti . According to the Papeete Rescue Center in Tahiti, the 49-year-old Laurent Bourgnon went scuba diving on his own while the guests went diving with an instructor. When he failed to return after the dive, the yacht’s crew members reported Bourgnon missing on Wednesday afternoon, June 24.

A rescue helicopter was sent to search the area on Wednesday afternoon, but they did not recover missing sailor Laurent Bourgnon, and the search was due to resume yesterday. So far, he has not been discovered.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Laurent's brother Yvan Bourgnon said he will join the research crew "to look for my brother night and day, as long as there will be hope. Laurent is a fighter, I know he can hold out several days adrift in the open sea."

An accomplished sailor, Laurent Bourgnon has won multiple races and attempted record breaking sails, setting both the record for solo transatlantic crossing and the record for distance travelled in 24 hours in 1994. Laurent Bourgnon won the Route du Rhum transatlantic sailing race twice, in 1994 and 1998.

Laurent Bourgnon has also lent his expertise to the creation of superyachts, such as the Sunreef Power 70 range, which includes the recent launch of the Sunreef Yachts catamaran Blue Belly .

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Leon’s challenge!

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Published 31/07/2012

By Jean-Christophe Guillaumin

Issue: Previous issues

Published: jan. / feb. 2013

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Published: January / February 2013

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The same year, a certain Laurent Bourgnon, with Frédéric Geraldi, achieved the same feat in 16 days... It was no longer a sporting feat, but a record to be beaten! In 1999, Gérard Navarin and Hans Bouscholte crossed in 15 days. Then Andrea Gancia and Matteo Miceli took the record in 13 days in 2004, before being toppled by Benoît Lequin and Pierre-Yves Moreau in 11 days. Singlehanded, Alessandro di Benedetto was the first to succeed, before being dethroned by Matteo Miceli who brought the record between Las Palmas and Guadeloupe down to 14 days. In 2012, David Léon wanted to attack the transat singlehanded, on a machine which was...original. The Aster One 18 is in fact equipped with a rig which can be adjusted laterally, which allows a gain in stability and therefore in speed. With 20 to 25 knots of wind, the skipper was sure that he would be able to cover 240 miles a day! The aim was therefore clearly the absolute record...   But sailors plan and the sea decides!   "Having left with a 3-metre swell, in weather conditions which were tense but manageable, a cross swell appeared which wasn’t forecast. In an incoherent sea in the middle of the night, a crest formed, a breaker appeared...and hit David. Once the amazement had passed, he took stock. The bags were there – phew! The comfortable cushion had disappeared – ouch! A steering cable had broken, s**t! He recovered, and started sailing again. A bit later, David had to take in a reef. During the manoeuvre, the back of the boat showed a tendency to sink dangerously. David reacted very quickly, and threw everything he could forward... A split; the boat was damaged!  David pumped, emptied; and stabilised the Aster 18, and set off again. 4 hours of sailing and analysis of the situation later, he had to take in the last reef. As he did so, he checked the water level...the boat was clearly taking on more water than was reasonable. It was finished, he had to turn back. An average of 9.8 knots over these first hours! He hadn’t been bluffing! The Aster had sailed very fast, but the Atlantic hadn’t let it pass. But we would like to bet that the attempt has only been postponed.  

Find out more on: www.lasolitairedeleon.com

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