#4myplanet2

On Sunday, November 4, 2018 a fleet of 123 boats, grouped in 6 categories – Class 40, RhumMono, Imoca, RhumMulti, Multi50 and Ultime – over a line of 5km, distributed in 4 segments departed from Saint Malo, a port city in Brittany in the northwest of France, direction Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe, for the 40thanniversary edition of the legendary solo transatlantic Route du Rhum.

Departure at Saint Malo for the Route de Rhum @RoaminDruenne

Competitors in the Route de Rhum 2018 @Alexis Courcoux

Victory went to French navigator Paul Meilhat after 12 days at sea, following British sailor Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) who was first of the IMOCAs (18m mono-hull) to arrive in Guadeloupe, Friday morning, but who incurred a penalty of 24 hours for having used his engine after going aground about 60 miles from the finish.

The last British to win the Route du Rhum in the IMOCA class was Dame Ellen MacArthur back in 2002.

Mission accomplished for Boris Herrmann on Malizia II

After 13 days 3 hours 47 minutes and 30 seconds of racing Boris Herrmann, skipper of Malizia II-Yacht Club of Monaco, crossed the finish line of the Route du Rhum –Destination Guadeloupe race, on Saturday, November 17, 2018, covering 4,437 miles at an average speed of 14.5 knots. The famous race is organized every four years.

“I was aiming to be in the top 5,”said Boris Herrmann when departing Le Havre on November 4, and the mission was accomplished for the experienced skipper and his foiling mono-hull Malizia II, who came 5th in the IMOCA class out of 20 entrants. It was an incredible performance for the 37-year-old who was competing in his first solo transatlantic crossing and who even managed to lead the fleet for 24 hours. His next goal will be Vendee Globe 2020!

For YCM Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi who set up and supervises the Malizia II project, there was immense pride as this was the first time his team entered this mythical race.

Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Hermann on board Malizia II@mesi_HD

Boris Herrmann on board IMOCA MALIZIA II training before departure Route du Rhum 2018@Jean-Marie LIOT

Boris Hermann and Malizia II at departure from Saint Malo, November 4, 2018@B. Gergaud

Boris Herrmann on board IMOCA MALIZIA II, training before departure for Route du Rhum @ Jean-Marie LIOT

Boris Herrmann_5e Route du Rhum_BD@Stan Thuret

Alexia Barrier on board 4myplanet2 still in the running

Among the 123 boats in six categories on the start on Sunday November 4, 2018, there were 20 in the high-performance IMOCA class where we find boats that have already notched up prizes in the Vendée Globe, Barcelona Race and Transat Jacques Vabre. Some have foils, others not, and all are helmed by seasoned racers who have their sights set on the next Vendée Globe, “Sailing’s Everest”. But the sea and weather decided that few would arrive in Guadeloupe, and during the first week teams along the coast of Brittany and Portugal were to be found, some seeking shelter, others badly damaged. Saturday evening, five of them have arrived, ten are still in the race, a few of them are still sailing on the other side of the Atlantic and will arrive a long time after the party’s over. But they will have done it. They will have fulfilled their commitment and can start to dream of other races.

One of those sailors still on the race is Alexia Barrier, one of the three women competing in this year’s Route de Rhum in the IMOCA category on board the oldest boat in the fleet, the legendary Pingouin, a Lombard designed boat from 1998 renamed 4myplanet2. Alexia is gradually getting closer to her childhood dream, the Vendee Globe 2020.

Alexia Barrier at Saint Malo for the departure of the Route de Rhum 2018 @NicolasMeyerUNCL(2)

4myplanet @NicolasMeyerUNCL(1)

Alexia Barrier on board 4myplanet 2, Route de Rhum 2018 @Alexis Courcoux(2)

When Alexia qualified for the Route de Rhum she said:“The Route du Rhum will be something new for me, but also for the boat, as strangely, she has set off six times around the world (including four times in the Vendée Globe), but she has never taken part in the Route du Rhum. It’s going to be hard to keep up with the other competitors. I’ll be looking for other ways to work and giving it my all in any case, as I am a very competitive person. I’m lucky to be able to compete in this race, which is also a great opportunity to practice as we look forward to the 2020 Vendée Globe, which is the ultimate challenge for me.”

To help her reach her dreams, Alexia is supported by a group of loyal sponsors, among which is the Mairie de Monaco and the Association Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises de Monaco (AFCEM) where she is an active member. Vamos Alexia! 

Today’s Quote

“The important thing in life is not to triumph, but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” Pierre de Coubertin

On Thursday, June 7, 2018 at exactly 08:17 the SMA skippered by Paul Meilhat and Gwenole Gahinet passed the arrival line of the first edition of the Monaco Globe Series (MGS), the new IMOCA60 2018/2020 world championship, organized by the Yacht Club of Monaco. It was a highly intensive competitive race up to the last miles, for the winners as well as the rest of the pack. The French skippers were greeted by Prince Albert at their arrival on the YCM dock.

SMA winners of first stage of Monaco Globe Series arriving on June 7, 2018@mesi_BD

Prince Albert with Paul Meilhat and Gwenole Gahinet of SMA at arrival in Monaco June 7, 2018, [email protected]

The 9 teams participating in this non-stop double-handed race without assistance gave it all in the first stage of the MGS, with the goal of gathering valuable points to qualify for the Vendee Globe 2020, known as the Everest of the Seas, the toughest, famous and merciless sailing race in the world, without stopping and without assistance.

Having departed on Sunday, June 3 at 13:00 sharp from Monaco, the first competitors in the MGS returned to the Monaco bay illuminated by the first rays of the sun on Thursday, June 7. It took SMA 3 days, 19 hours and 17minutes to cover the course of 717,23 nm at the end of a fierce and zealous battle.

“It’s weird to navigate visually for so many miles,” confided Paul Meilhat when he stepped ashore. “That was not a given, as we had to keep focused till the end. It was a magnificent course; we should organize one in the Mediterranean every year!”

Newrest-Art & Fenetres with Fabrice Amedeo and Eric Peron on board, used every muscle in their bodies tailgating SMA until Ile de Bagaud. It was a game of cat and mouse for several miles until the Bretons decided to go for the kill by hugging the cost to take full advantage of the slightest gust.

Another duel was between Newrest-Art & Fenetres (3rd) and Monin (2nd), finally won by Isabelle Joscke and Alain Gautier thanks in part to Alain’s experience, with the duo snatching a second place by a nose just seven minutes ahead.

The 9 competitors in the Monaco Globe Series 2018

Alain Gautier and Isabelle Joschke arriving in Monaco June 7, 2018 MGS_2018@mesi_BD

Arrival of MONIN in Monaco, Isabelle Joschke and Alain Gautier, MGS 2018 @mesi_BD

Fabrice Amedeo and Eric Peronn, Newrest ARt and Fenetres (3rd)@mesi_BD

Teams Newrest, SMA and Monina at arrival in Monaco June 7, 2018 MGS_2018@mesi_BD

One by one the rest of the fleet crossed the final line

One after the other the rest of the fleet crossed the final line; Kilcullen Team Ireland came 4th, followed by Boulogne Billancourt (5th), Group Setin (6th), Malizia II (7th), Bureau Valle 2 (8th) and finally 4MyPlanet2 (9th).

“It was a really superb race with a lot of twists and turns,” said Pierre Casiraghi sailing on Malizia II. “It was tough in the Strait of Bonifacio then the battle to beat back up to Port-Cross as the fleet was in the process of regrouping.”

The other part of the duo Boris Herrmann added, “The Mediterranean really lived up to its promises with a range of very varied conditions. An intense race and amazing experience.” The Monegasque IMOCA 60 finished 7thbehind Manuel Cousin and Alan Roura on Groupe Setin. (Photo: Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Herrmann on board Malizia II Monaco Globe Series 2018@mesi_BD)

Alexia Barrier and Pierre Quirogea on board 4MyPlanet2 had an unexpected emotional welcomed by all the skippers on arrival at the Yacht Club of Monaco pontoon.

“We got the boat only one month ago, so it was already a challenge for us to get ready on time for the MGS. As a Mediterranean, it has been a real satisfaction to participate, playing on home turf. We did enjoy this course that met our sport and technical expectations with lots of maneuvering and sail changings and tactics. We were proud to run close to the most beautiful boats and the best competitors of the IMOCA class. In a word, it was an excellent way to try out this boat before the next challenge.

Obviously 4myplanet2 was like a 2CV on a rally circuit but we were really in the race, running side by side to some of them and we even succeeded in frightening them.” (Photo:Alexia Barrier and Pierre Quirogea 4MyPlanet2 MGS2018@mesi_HD)

“For the next stage, we learned on which aspects of the boat we need to be focused and work on in order to improve it. We keep in mind that even if the boat is 20 years old we can be part of the Route du Rhum race. We now must concentrate not only on working and practicing, but also find some sponsoring partners to meet our goals.” 

Like Morgan Wootten said:“You learn from losing more than winning. You learn how to keep going.”

Arrival time final classification (after jury decision)

SMA – Paul Meilhat / Gwénolé Gahinet : 3J, 19h, 17mn & 0s

Monin – Isabelle Joschke / Alain Gautier : 3j, 21h, 03mn & 50s

Newrest Art & Fenêtres – Fabrice Amedeo / Eric Péron : 3j, 21h, 11mn & 10s

Kilcullen Team Ireland – Joan Mulloy / Thomas Ruyant : 3j, 22h, 25mn & 0 sec

Boulogne Billancourt – Stéphane Le Diraison / Stan Maslard : 3j, 23h, 45mn & 3s

Groupe Setin – Manuel Cousin / Alan Roura : 3j, 23h, 47mn & 38s

Malizia II -Yacht Club de Monaco – Pierre Casiraghi / Boris Herrmann : 4j, 00h, 03mn & 0sec

Bureau Vallée 2 – Louis Burton / Arthur Hubert : 4j, 1h, 29mn & 26s

4myplanet2 – Alexia Barrier / Pierre Quirogea : 4j, 2 h, 49mn & 30s

Skippers signed Appeal for the Ocean

The culmination of the first leg of the Monaco Globe Series coincided with the celebration of World Oceans Day, and all the skippers signed the Appeal for the Ocean, at the initiative of famous French sailor Catherine Chabaud. The appeal to protect our oceans is based on the fact that life comes from the ocean, it is a living ocean that we must preserve as a legacy for our children.

Catherine Chabaud signing Appeal for the Ocean charter on World Oceans Day @mesi

Pierre Casiraghi signs Appeal for the Ocean charter on World Oceans Day @mesi_HD

The Prize Ceremony in photos

Paul Meilhat and Gwenole Gahinet SMA winners of MGS 2018 first stage@mesi_HD

Alain Gautier and Isabelle Joschke MONIN (2nd), MGS 2018 @mesi_HD

Fabrice Amedeo and Eric Peron, Newrest Art et Fenetres (3rd) MGS 2018@mesi_HD

Monaco Globe Series Prize Ceremony at YCM June 8, 2018@mesi_HD

Today’s Quote

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from where we came.”John F. Kennedy