Paprec Virbac 3

Jean-Pierre Dick is first to press the button on a 2012 Vendee Globe campaign

Paprec-Virbac 2 skipper Jean-Pierre Dick has announced that he intends continue with the IMOCA circuit for another four years culminating in the 2012 Vendee Globe. Already he has a new boat in preparation.

Looking back at this year's Vendee Globe Dick comments: "The overall result is rather positive. Competitively, I was in the loop. The work undertaken in different areas (weather, sleep, nutrition, mental, physical ...) over the last seven years has borne fruit. So I enjoyed the sailing, in this first month and a half of this race at least. My abandonment was less the less of a lack of success as to a material weakness - the rudders were perhaps too light. My boat had already done one and a half round the worlds, including a victory in the Barcelona World Race. It was reliable and I trust her."

As to why he wants to compete in the Vendée Globe for a third time Dick says: "First, I did not complete my dream of the Vendée Globe! Then I found my way. I feel at ease in these around the world races. They are magical and you can come back without tiring. Trying to win the Vendée Globe is a Holy Grail for me! And my passion is intact. I take risks, move forward, I challenge, innovate...."

Dick says he plans to continue with backing once again from Virbac Paprec. "This was already agreed before the start of the Vendée Globe. With Luc Talbourdet, we have built a business model effectively. Our partnership offers good benefits to joint sponsors. Our partners are faithful, we succeeded in our model and this allows us to plan for the future. So this includes building a new boat - we sold Paprec-Virbac 2 to our Spanish friends (FNOB *). This will be a great support for them to win the next Barcelona World Race!"

As to the new boat Dick says his reasoning is: "To innovate, from a blank page - it is obvious to me, for the team and for our partners. We have always worked like that. This is an opportunity to be break new ground for naval architecture is constantly evolving. Our projects are also related to reliability. We have already agreed upon a number of parameters we have tested, but we will continue to innovate and be the first to take advantage of new design solutions."

The new boat will come from a different designer: "After 8 years of fruitful collaboration with Farr, the choice was very difficult," says Dick. "We chose Verdier/VPLP because we are aligned with their approach. We are already working with Guillaume Verdier on another project and Vincent Lauriot Prevost is equally brilliant. They know the issues: navigation and power alone. We can go even further in that direction. I see the sails requiring significant physical involvement, but also with the comfort and ergonomics. We have the same philosophy."

Schedule:
Planning
- End February 2009: selection of the design
- End March 2009: choice of build site in New Zealand
- 16 April 2009: IMOCA rule fixed for four years
- 1 July 2009: Start of construction
- May 2010: Launch of Paprec-Virbac 3
- End 2010: Route du Rhum and / or Barcelona World Race
- 2011: Transat Jacques Vabre
- 2012: Vendée Globe