IMOCA consolidates

Open 60 class association announces program and plans for the future

As the IMOCA Open 60 class continues to strengthen - as demonstrated by the high quality, international fleet currently racing down the Atlantic Ocean in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the organisation that manages the interests of the skippers has also in recent months reorganised and strengthened. As the world's largest active offshore racing Class, with over 35 measured Open 60s and 50s, IMOCA has become the focus for many sponsors and event organisers.

The IMOCA Championship Programme for 2004 and 2005 has been mapped out with an outline for 2006/7 also agreed. This is to provide stability and confidence for the sponsors and skippers in the class. IMOCA will continue to focus on trans-ocean and round the world short-handed formats (solo and doublehanded), with additional, smaller events focused at interaction with public, media and sponsors. A new format for the non-oceanic races has also been confirmed, with event organisers now invited to bid for slots in the programme in 2004/5.

IMOCA's new President, Jacques Guilbaud was voted in unanimously in August, the first time a non-active skipper has taken this role, giving the class a more dynamic character in terms of time for action [the work doesn't stop when the skippers are racing!]. Guilbaud is supported by the Executive Committee of the Class - with leading skippers Mike Golding and Roland Jourdain as Vice Presidents.

The IMOCA Technical Rule that governs how the boats are built and designed, will remain stable through this coming 2004/5 Vendée Globe season, but will be reviewed for the following seasons.

IMOCA remains committed to managing both the Open 60 and Open 50 classes - its aim is to continue to develop the fleet, assist skippers, encourage sponsorship, and provide a robust and powerful circuit giving confidence to sailors and sponsors alike.

IMOCA is currently involved in a number of Class title sponsorship negotiations - such a partner will be key to take the Class to the next level of operation, and will benefit in particular from next year's Vendee Globe

IMOCA programme for 2004/5

2004

April 15-May 15: ONE THOUSAND MILE race

The new format for short course racing for the Open 50s and 60s - this will be the first in the series of events, crewed by five sailors plus one journalist/sponsor/guest and starting and finishing in the same port. Pre-race and post-race friendlies inshore to help the campaigns share their story and interact with the public. This same format will repeat once or twice each year in the future.

May 31: The Transat (La Transat Anglaise)
Established in 1960 as the OSTAR, this was the very solo ocean race, the one that started it all! Plymouth to Boston. Open to 50s and 60s.

Nov 7: Vendée Globe: solo non-stop around the planet, the ultimate challenge for the IMOCA fleet. The present record stands at 93 days set by Michel Desjoyeaux on board PRB in 2001.

2005

Spring: ONE THOUSAND MILER event
Summer: Round Britain and Ireland Race (every two years)
Autumn: ONE THOUSAND MILER event
Nov: Transat Jacques Vabre

2006

One or two ONE THOUSAND MILER events
Route du Rhum
5 Oceans (tbc)


IMOCA executive and committee members:
President : Jacques Guilbaud
Vice presidents: Roland Jourdain and Mike Golding
Treasurer : Jean-Pierre Dick
Secretary General adjoint : Jean-Paul Roux
Members of the council: Jean Bacave, Thierry Dubois, Mark Turner.

Technical Committee :
Mike Golding (Chairman)
Jean Bacave (50’)
Antoine Koch
Nicolas Abiven
Bernard Stamm (representing the President Mr Jacques Guilbaud)
Dominique Wavre
Vincent Riou (waiting for EGM)

Architects : Merfyn Owen and Marc Lombard
Consultants : Jean-Marie Finot and Bruce Farr (waiting for constitution modification during the EGM)

Race Organiser : Sylvie Viant
Measurers : Jean-Louis Conti and Jean Sans (candidate)

Event Committee :
Mark Turner (Chairman)
Luc Talbourdet (Acting Chairman, Mark Turner having handed in resignation)
Roland Jourdain or his representative Gaëtan Gouerou
Dominique Wavre
Jean Bacave (50’)
Eric Coquerel