IMOCA 60 class news

2005 and 2006 programme drawn up

With just 4 days to go to the pinnacle event of the four year cycle of races for the IMOCA Open 60 Class, it is worth perhaps reflecting on the steady and sure development of what is the world's largest oceanic racing fleet.

With over 30 measured IMOCA 60s in the world, and a 6 nation, 20 strong fleet of solo skippers heading off around the planet this winter in the Vendée Globe, this Class has continued to gather pace year on year since its inception. In particular, it has grown well beyond the small French club of the early 90s, in to a truly international top level racing arena. Professional campaigns, a year on year race calendar, fully sponsored boats, and full time skippers - yet the spirit and camaraderie between these adventure seeking competitors has not been dissipated by the commercial pressures of sponsorship and communication.

The unrestricted nature of the Open 60 rule has been the catalyst for the evolution of many of the technical advances now seen on racing yachts large and small - canting keels, twin rudders, assymmetric daggerboards, the use lightweight fibre rigging offshore, headsail furling systems, autopilots... In 2000 it was wisely agreed by the Class to maintain the same rule for the four years until the following Vendée Globe. This created a stable platform for growth of the Class, even at a time of economic uncertainty in the world.

IMOCA will review over the coming 6 months the Class Rules, looking for ways to maintain its Open spirit and high degrees of safety measures, yet allow continued innovation. Preserving the existing fleet is of course critical, but the Class also recognises the need to keep these boats at the cutting edge of performance, and yet maintain the budgets at a sensible level - something which has to date allowed for the significant, and continued growth of the fleet.

In order to help skippers and sponsors plan their longer term campaigns, the IMOCA programme for 2005 and 2006 has already largely been decided, and will maintain a clear focus of the Class on short-handed racing - solo and 2-up in other words. The IMOCA World Championship will include the following elements:

Programme 2005
22 May: Calais Round Britain and Ireland Race - Two-Handed (2-up) - Co-efficient 2
7 August: Rolex Fastnet Race - 'fully crewed' 5 up plus 1 media representative - Co-efficient 1
November: Transat Jacques Vabre: Co-efficient X - 2 up - Co-efficient 3
TBC 2 x 1000 milers [one in the north/west, one in the south of France/Med], July / Sep
[1000 milers are fully crewed, with primary objective public and sponsor relations]

For the Open 50s: Fastnet + TJV

Draft programme for 2006
Early Season: Brittany- China OR Lorient-Bermuda-Lorient - 2-up - Co-efficient 3
November: Route du Rhum solo transatlantic - Co-efficient 4
TBC: 5-Oceans (ex-Around Alone), Solo around the world, with a minimum of 3 legs, to possibly include the Route du Rhum
2 x 1000 milers