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Multi One Design

Race for Water, the first in a long line

Text: Vincent Gillioz

Year: 2011

© Yvan Zedda

On 25 March 2011, Stève Ravussin christened his brand new Multi One Design (MOD) 70, Race For Water in Lorient. The sailboat, the first of a fleet of one designs, which may include up to twelve craft, was already performing its first sea trials in April, prior to doing battle with Veolia, the number 2 of the series during the next Fastnet in August.

Moreover, class director Franck David, announced during the event that the partnership as well as the various stages of the first oceanic race, due to take place in July 2012, were signed and sealed. More precise information should be revealed on 21 April. However, all the indications lead one to believe that New York has been chosen to be the city to host the start of a transatlantic which will set sail for France on the American national holiday on 4 July.

© Jean-Guy Python

Franck David also confirmed the sale of two new craft, without actually announcing the owners of the boats. Indeed it is left up to each team to carry out their own communication. However, the name Morocco United has been bandied about fairly widely. A sailboat sporting the colours of the North African kingdom will thus join Race For Water, Veolia, Foncia and Gitana next year. Half the boat’s crew will be made up of Moroccans whilst the remainder will be Breton sailors. For the time being no name has been unveiled. However the finish of the MOD70 Round the World, planned for 2014 will take place in a Moroccan port.

The matter of the purchaser of boat number 6 is still open to debate as this edition of Skippers goes to print. The names of Sidney Gavignet and his sponsor Oman have certainly been pronounced in various environments and though at this stage the information has yet to be confirmed, it does seem fairly plausible given the sultanate’s involvement in the sailing world. Furthermore, when in Oman during the Extreme Sailing Series in February, the helmsman on Alinghi, Yann Guichard, revealed to a journalist with Skippers magazine that he was in search of sponsors so he could join the MOD70 programme.

Whatever the identity of the future participants, and the stopover towns for the upcoming events, the christening of this first MOD70 has clearly demonstrated that this daring project is in operation mode. As such the era of the oceanic one design multihull will finally be able to begin.

The first of twelve one design MOD70 trimarans was christened in the colours of the Multi One Attitude foundation, whose aim is to protect the oceans and water resources. Swiss skipper Stève Ravussin is the project’s ambassador. The first races are scheduled for the summer of 2012.