Belgacom revamped

Jean-Luc Nelias' 60ft trimaran modified and repainted for 2003 ORMA season

With the change of corporate colours of Belgacom, so Jean-Luc Nelias 60ft trimaran has changed livery too.

Aside from the new paintjob the Belgacom tri has undergone a top to bottom refit over the winter including some significant rebuilding. Following the Route du Rhum some structural reinforcements to the boat have also been made, particularly in the crossbeams and the float.

Aside from the reinforcements, the most significant modification has been to reduce the overall beam by nearly 30cm. Previously Belgacom was one of the widest of the new generation of trimarans. The reason for this modification is to improve handling but the reduction in weight should improve light weather performance.

Improvements are also in the process of being made to the steering (fairly complex with three rudders to steer from two helming positions plus autopilots, etc), the appendages and to the performance instrumentation. Sail development has included the addition of a new 3DL genniker build in spectra.

The program for the year with the ORMA series, including the Grand Prix at Lorient, Marseilles, Cagliari and Fecamp along with the offshore races the Challenge Mondial Assistance and the two handed Transat Jacques Vabre.

Joining skipper Jean-Luc Nelias will again be a world class team including Belgium Finn sailor Sebastien Godefroid, French match racer Thierry Peponnet and Spanish navigator Nacho Postigo. The offshore crew for the Challenge Mondial Assistance will include Le Defi Areva boss Pierre Mas and Sill skipper Roland Jourdain.

Crew (grand prix):
Jean-Luc Nélias
Sebastien Godefroid
Grégoire Metz
Peter De Smedt
Luc Bartissol
Thierry Peponnet
Yann Gouniot
Christophe Lassègue
Nacho Postigo
Fred Brousse
Jean-Sébastien Ponce
Laurent Delage

Crew Challenge Mondial Assistance:
Jean-Luc Nélias
Luc Bartissol
Christophe Lassègue
Fred Brousse
Pierre Mas
Roland Jourdain