Ultime / G-Class Development

[jb5]

Video of Gitana showing some of the work done over the long layup.  English sub-titles.

This should be a very interesting JV season with Gitana going up against Sodebo and not forgetting that Spindrift will probably also be in the mix.

Two foilers and a previous winner and very different technology levels.  I would assume Gitana will be in full active controls mode which should give her the technical performance advantage and of course she is now pretty sorted compared to Sodebo which is still new.

A taste of what might be to come if the Ultim RWR race gets off the ground next year.

 

[JL92S]

Video of Gitana showing some of the work done over the long layup.  English sub-titles.

This should be a very interesting JV season with Gitana going up against Sodebo and not forgetting that Spindrift will probably also be in the mix.

Two foilers and a previous winner and very different technology levels.  I would assume Gitana will be in full active controls mode which should give her the technical performance advantage and of course she is now pretty sorted compared to Sodebo which is still new.

A taste of what might be to come if the Ultim RWR race gets off the ground next year.

I can’t see Spindrift making it round, they don’t have enough luck. It’s strange because it should be the most reliable boat. Bigger platform operating without the stresses and gremlins of a foil system, basically just a giant MOD70

 

[Ahstom]

I can’t see Spindrift making it round, they don’t have enough luck. It’s strange because it should be the most reliable boat. Bigger platform operating without the stresses and gremlins of a foil system, basically just a giant MOD70

I don't know if luck is the only thing to blame to be honest. There are some thing you can do to remove some unknown factor from the equation. Loosing the mast inside Brest Harbour or discovering that your new rudders stall over 30kt 20 hours after the start of your TJV attempt is not bad luck... 

 

[jb5]

BP ultim coming together... 

 

[JL92S]

I don't know if luck is the only thing to blame to be honest. There are some thing you can do to remove some unknown factor from the equation. Loosing the mast inside Brest Harbour or discovering that your new rudders stall over 30kt 20 hours after the start of your TJV attempt is not bad luck... 

They’re not very good at making their own luck. I feel bad for a friend of mine that sails on the boat, as far as I know he’s planning on trying to go round again

 

[jb5]

https://www.scanvoile.com/2020/06/macif-se-retire-du-circuit-ultim-francois-gabart.html#.XuC8eDPYqbg

This is a very big one.  First major sponsor to exit from sailing since the virus?

...

Macif withdraws from Ultim sponsorship. "It is a huge challenge ahead of me with my team: complete the construction of a superb flying trimaran and find new players ready to accompany us on the extraordinary adventure of a crewed Round the World trip."

François Gabart: "A page turns"
"I have always said that I like challenges, it is a huge challenge that awaits us with my team: complete the construction of a superb flying trimaran and find new support ready to accompany us in the extraordinary adventure of '' A crewed World Tour. 

These 10 years with Macif have been rich in emotions and great victories. I lived incredible moments. This decision is necessarily difficult, but I accept and respect it. 

A page turns but I especially want to remember that it is a new chapter which opens. A new story to write in tomorrow's offshore racing. I am fortunate to have a united team by my side. Women and men full of talent in whom I fully trust.

Together we will put all our energy and our know-how in the construction of this new multihull with which we hope to continue to make you dream. My passion remains intact and I want more than ever to return to the water! "

 

[yl75]

Crew annouced for Gitana JV attempt :


Note : Erwan Israel was part of Spindrift cress on last attempt

 

[yl75]

https://www.scanvoile.com/2020/06/macif-se-retire-du-circuit-ultim-francois-gabart.html#.XuC8eDPYqbg

This is a very big one.  First major sponsor to bale from sailing since the virus?

...

Macif withdraws from Ultim sponsorship. "It is a huge challenge ahead of me with my team: complete the construction of a superb flying trimaran and find new players ready to accompany us on the extraordinary adventure of a crewed Round the World trip."

François Gabart: "A page turns"
"I have always said that I like challenges, it is a huge challenge that awaits us with my team: complete the construction of a superb flying trimaran and find new support ready to accompany us in the extraordinary adventure of '' A crewed World Tour. 

These 10 years with Macif have been rich in emotions and great victories. I lived incredible moments. This decision is necessarily difficult, but I accept and respect it. 

A page turns but I especially want to remember that it is a new chapter which opens. A new story to write in tomorrow's offshore racing. I am fortunate to have a united team by my side. Women and men full of talent in whom I fully trust.

Together we will put all our energy and our know-how in the construction of this new multihull with which we hope to continue to make you dream. My passion remains intact and I want more than ever to return to the water! "

wow, very big one indeed ...

And I guess Bidegorry is also on the sponsor hunt for the current Macif.

 

[yl75]

Tweet from Macif and Macif's CEO :


So they get out of the Ultim class, but stay in IMOCAs (Apivia) and the Figaro class

 

[jb5]

Bit more detail.   Macif are refocusing on Figaro and IMOCA.  Just dropping the Ultim.  The big EUR spend.

http://www.courseaularge.com/ultim-recentrage-de-macif-figaro-imoca.html

The Macif group confirms its withdrawal from the Ultim class in agreement with its skipper François Gabart and announces that it is refocusing its engagement in ocean racing on the IMOCA and Figaro Bénéteau circuits.

This decision is part of the end of the sports program of the current MACIF trimaran, marked by magnificent victories and records during 4 years. During this period, the program on the Ultim circuit carried the Macif group's strategic plan, which ends at the end of 2020 and opens the way to new ambitions for the future.
In light of the last 10 years of great collaboration with François Gabart, an exceptional sailor, the Macif will have played a large part in the technical and technological progress of competitive sailing, in particular with the Ultim program.

As a shipowner, the Macif group will continue to build the new multihull until the end, building on the structure of François Gabart: MerConcept.

His commitment to offshore racing continues and is focused on the IMOCA circuit with the Imoca APIVIA and on the Figaro Bénéteau circuit with the Skipper Macif program, with MerConcept by his side.

“We have made the decision to end the Ultim program and turn a page in the partnership that has linked us to François Gabart for 10 years now. This period, punctuated by victories and records, will have enabled as many people as possible to experience moments of rare intensity. Great adventures are still to come on the IMOCA and Figaro circuits. »  Pascal Michard, President of the Macif group

“These 10 years of partnership under the colors of Macif have been rich in emotions. We have had great victories together in Figaro, in Imoca and then in Ultim. I understand and respect the choice of Macif. One page turns and another opens. I am fortunate with MerConcept, to have a great team by my side. We will put all our experience and our energy to build this new flying boat and remain actors of the evolution of the maritime world of tomorrow. My passion remains intact and I will do everything to find actors ready to accompany me in the extraordinary adventure of a crewed Round the World trip. »  François Gabart, Skipper Macif 2010-2020

“We warmly thank François for all these moments of shared joy. We are proud to have been able to work actively with him over the past 10 years to advance the nautical sector of ocean racing and to contribute to the building of progress in competitive sailing. We are happy to continue our collaboration with him in the preparation and technical support of our Imoca APIVIA which will start the next Vendée Globe and our two Figaro Bénéteau. »  Adrien Couret, Managing Director of the Macif group

 

[yl75]

Instagram post from Gabart :

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBP--GiH_KG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

[JonRowe]

The FB post from Gabart mentions Jimmy, and looking at crewed RTW, time for a Red Bull Ultimé?

Some of the translations make it sound like Macif are funding the construction of the new platform until compleition, but Gabart makes it sound like he'll have to find funding to finish it, does anyone with better French than I (not hard) know which it is?

 

[yl75]

The FB post from Gabart mentions Jimmy, and looking at crewed RTW, time for a Red Bull Ultimé?

Some of the translations make it sound like Macif are funding the construction of the new platform until compleition, but Gabart makes it sound like he'll have to find funding to finish it, does anyone with better French than I (not hard) know which it is?

The course au large article says :

"En sa qualité d’armateur, le groupe Macif poursuivra jusqu’à son terme la construction du nouveau multicoque en s’appuyant sur la structure de François Gabart : MerConcept."

Which means that Macif placed the contract to have the ship built (not sure if merconcept is an intermiadiary between Macif and the Shipyard there, or direct recipient of the contract), and I guess in contractual terms they are more or less obliged to finish it, but plan to sell it once finished. And Gabart needs to find the ones that will buy it.

(I'm not a legal expert in these things ...)

 

[Laurent]

Thanks yl75, that's the way I understand it as well. MACIF is the owner of the (half built) boat and will complete the build, but not sponsor a new Ultim racing campaign.

It would be interesting to know if they do this by contract or because they want to...

 

[jb5]

New images of Macif's central hull on the way from Multiplast to Merconcept in Concarneau on the same day of the sponsorship decision.

Credit Multiplast

 

[Sailbydate]

The FB post from Gabart mentions Jimmy, and looking at crewed RTW, time for a Red Bull Ultimé?

Some of the translations make it sound like Macif are funding the construction of the new platform until compleition, but Gabart makes it sound like he'll have to find funding to finish it, does anyone with better French than I (not hard) know which it is?

Yeah. A bit confusing. One thing's for sure though, a new paint job will be required.

However, from a sponsor's perspective, could there be anyone better to back than, Gabart?

 

[jb5]

Yeah. A bit confusing. One thing's for sure though, a new paint job will be required.

However, from a sponsor's perspective, could there be anyone better to back than, Gabart?

Agree, Gabart is bankable.

Will be very interesting to see if he of all the potential skippers of these boats can pull together a new sponsor package in the current environment. I hope he can.

Two Macif tri's on sale could also be a bit ugly for the class 1 1/2 years before the big RTW race. 

Macif are saying the decision was not virus business impact related which is interesting, if you believe it. 

 

[Boink]

The withdrawal of Macif from Ultims is a big blow. Just goes to show how many competing issues are at play for even these big spending corporates. So Imagine that the VG remains the pinnacle of French interest in Sailing. The numbers of people in attendance for the pre-start, Start and finishes, the duration and widespread media coverage and ultimate awareness that the whole race creates with a corresponding ROI in Brand awareness and goodwill (especially as they have won the event previously). The Ultims are what 3x the budget?  For a currently incoherent programme (not entirely the organisers fault), and for events such as the JV which will ultimately give them a hoped for sub 40 day duration. The marketing department are not seeing the Bang for Buck that say an Imoca or Figaro gives. Especially for the very high build and campaign costs that an Ultim represents. Against the context of Gitana with the Rothschilds finanacial clout and decision to go fully automated (at even more expense - but with ultimately higher performance - thereby severely denting the prospects of Macif or anyone else getting a chance of coming out on top - and who really remembers who came 2nd) - and with the advantage of Hindsight - was this decision not more likely than the surprise that it has created? 

I am surprised and saddened. It seems that long term partnerships are not as solid as once presumed, and that $$$ still rule the roost. But it comes back to sustainability. Imoca class again needs to heed the warning signs of relevance vs. vanity, cost vs. ROI and technology vs. endeavour. 

Other sports apart from sailing are going to look very different now that the playing surface has been swept clean and exposed the house of cards mentality that many represent - Be that F1, Football, Olympics, Tennis, Golf, Rugby or many others. 

 

[Sailbydate]

The withdrawal of Macif from Ultims is a big blow. Just goes to show how many competing issues are at play for even these big spending corporates. So Imagine that the VG remains the pinnacle of French interest in Sailing. The numbers of people in attendance for the pre-start, Start and finishes, the duration and widespread media coverage and ultimate awareness that the whole race creates with a corresponding ROI in Brand awareness and goodwill (especially as they have won the event previously). The Ultims are what 3x the budget?  For a currently incoherent programme (not entirely the organisers fault), and for events such as the JV which will ultimately give them a hoped for sub 40 day duration. The marketing department are not seeing the Bang for Buck that say an Imoca or Figaro gives. Especially for the very high build and campaign costs that an Ultim represents. Against the context of Gitana with the Rothschilds finanacial clout and decision to go fully automated (at even more expense - but with ultimately higher performance - thereby severely denting the prospects of Macif or anyone else getting a chance of coming out on top - and who really remembers who came 2nd) - and with the advantage of Hindsight - was this decision not more likely than the surprise that it has created? 

I am surprised and saddened. It seems that long term partnerships are not as solid as once presumed, and that $$$ still rule the roost. But it comes back to sustainability. Imoca class again needs to heed the warning signs of relevance vs. vanity, cost vs. ROI and technology vs. endeavour. 

Other sports apart from sailing are going to look very different now that the playing surface has been swept clean and exposed the house of cards mentality that many represent - Be that F1, Football, Olympics, Tennis, Golf, Rugby or many others. 

Imagine the richter scale devastating impact if Hugo Boss said Auf Wiedersehen  to Alex Thompson Racing, or Emirates said Kia Pai to Team New Zealand.

 

[jb5]

Imagine the richter scale devastating impact if Hugo Boss said Auf Wiedersehen  to Alex Thompson Racing, or Emirates said Kia Pai to Team New Zealand.

The new boat build cost is supposed to be in the region of 12m euros and the annual running cost for the team and boat 3-4m euros.  That they are staying in IMOCA with Apivia indicates the VG and probably RDR return on investment must be very good for the company.

A little more detail in the Macif decision. 

http://www.courseaularge.com/ultime-nouveau-projet-a-construire-francois-gabart-belle-opportunite-dautres-entreprises.html

Macif's withdrawal from the Ultim program caught everyone by surprise, including François Gabart, who did not expect it. Macif's decision was made just 15 days ago. It occurs after a change of management within the Macif group which did not wish to continue the Ultim program when it was to be renewed with Mer Concept for a new period of 3 years.

That the contract is not renewed following a change of direction is not new in sponsorship and it happens in all sports. This is the life of companies. The new management wants to print its brand and bring about change. It happened with Groupama or Safran. However, doing so when a new boat is under construction is quite surprising. The Macif remains the owner and Mer Concept has a budget to complete the boat and carry out two months of sea tests after its launch in June 2021. A position which gives François Gabart the opportunity to find new partners for a boat he will have built in his hand with his team.