The other Cheminees Poujoulat

Bernard Stamm's new boat is being prepared in Caen ready for his arrival back in Europe

While Bernard Stamm continues to lead the Velux 5 Oceans fleet up the South Atlantic towards Norfolk, Virginia, his other Cheminees Poujoulat Open 60 is now out of the water in Caen.

After the Velux 5 Oceans is complete, Stamm will step on board his new boat, formerly Jean-Pierre Dick's Virbac Paprec, to continue racing on the IMOCA circuit. At present his new boat is out of the water at Marc Lefebre's V1D2 yard.

First race for the new boat will be the Calais Round Britain and Ireland on 3 June. Stamm's team acquired their new boat on 15 January.

At present Xavier Briault is in charge of the refit to the Farr designed Open 60. "We have completely taken apart the boat and refaired the hull and the deck. The deck has been checked, and we have to change the branding to those of Bernard's partners,” explains Briault.

"Jean Pierre Dick had prepared the boat well last September for the Route du Rhum. Bernard has sailed forever on his present boat, but this is very different. I brought back it from the Caribbean after the Route du Rhum. It is more powerful but less physical at the same time, since all the lines return in the cockpit.

"It is necessary that she is ready when Bernard returns so that it can race around the British Isles without incident.” Cheminees Poujoulant should be relaunched in less than one month.