New Generali launched

Yann Elies' Finot-Conq designed, Multiplast-built Open 60 touches the water

After 12 months in build, Yann Elies' IMOCA Open 60 monohull Generali has just been launched at Chantier Multiplast in Vannes.

Since January when Generali’s deck and hull was presented in the presence of her godfather footballer Zinedine Zidane, work on Elies' Vendee Globe steed has continued apace. One of the biggest jobs was making the canting keel. Technically, an innovative and complex component, it was manufactured in collaboration with an aeronautical sub-contractor in order to ensure the highest degree of precision. As Yann Penfornis, project manager in charge of building Generali says: "We used the services of this firm, as they have at their disposal bigger milling machines than us. The shaping of the carbon fin took a whole week with machines working around the clock in three eight-hour shifts. As for fitting it to the boat, we really appreciated the headroom in our shed, as this allowed us to carry out the assembly in an enclosed area…"

At the same time, work continued on the construction and fitting of the roof, which covers the cockpit, the biodiesel engine (using biofuel made from farm crops offering a low level of CO² emissions), the deck fittings and the various systems. The daggerboards and rudders had to be fitted too. Once again, in this area, it was quality and high performance that were the watchwords. Generali was built from female moulds without the drawbacks of having to apply fairing compounds.



Builder Gilles Ollier gives his view: "After building five America's Cup class yacht and six giants multihulls, Generali is certainly one of the most sophisticated and immaculately finished boats that we have ever made, firstly, because that was what her owners wanted, then because the boat is entirely painted (there are no vinyl graphics) and she is varnished (like the America Class boat 6e Sens, which was also built in our yard). It is also certainly thanks to all the engineering work and the complementary skills that have come together in this collaboration between Multiplast, Yann Elies’s team and the designers Finot-Conq."

As soon as she is launched, Generali will be heading for her shore base where she will undergo the compulsory 180° self-righting test required by the IMOCA rules. Then the mast will be stepped, before additional load tests are carried out. Only then will it be time for the sea trials.

Designer Jean-Marie Finot comments: "The building of Generali went as smoothly as planned. The boat is well within the weight range we expected."
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Another first for Generali, is that for environmental reasons, the moulds will be turned into microfibres and recycled into industrial plastics.

Generali will make her racing debut in the Calais Round Britain Race in early June. Once Generali has left their shed, Multiplast will be starting the build of a second 60-foot IMOCA monohull for the Vendée Globe, which is due to be launched this summer.