Mirabaud has been undergoing improvements at the La Rochelle boat yard since Dominique Wavre and his delivery crew returned to France after the Transat Jacques Vabre. Over the course of the winter, the team has focussed on adapting the yacht to single-handed sailing with all the necessary safety and ergonomic features this discipline requires – all of which should significantly improve the yacht’s performance ahead of the start of the Vendee Globe in the Sables d’Olonne on the 10 November.
“The most notable addition is the spray dodger that will protect me from the worst of the weather and allow me to adjust the trim without having to put on foul weather gear each time. I can go on deck regularly and quickly without being too exposed,” explains the skipper. “It is built of composites and weighs in at just 30kg. It’s an excellent addition to the boat; it looks good, is well made and will be very useful.
“We have also installed a tiller instead of the usual double wheel so that I can steer and trim at the same time. [This new layout will also allow Dominique to stack sails at the back of the boat if necessary.]
“And finally we have installed a bucket seat inside the boat so that I can rest while staying close to the instruments and manoeuvres. We have improved and modified lots of small details, mainly related to boat handling – what might seem easy with a crew is very complex when you are doing it alone.
“We are currently adding the final touches before the rig goes back in over the next few days. I hope to be sailing again by the beginning of May.”Mirabaud has been undergoing improvements at the La Rochelle boat yard since Dominique Wavre and his delivery crew returned to France after the Transat Jacques Vabre. Over the course of the winter, the team has focussed on adapting the yacht to single-handed sailing with all the necessary safety and ergonomic features this discipline requires – all of which should significantly improve the yacht’s performance ahead of the start of the Vendee Globe in the Sables d’Olonne on the 10 November.
“The most notable addition is the spray dodger that will protect me from the worst of the weather and allow me to adjust the trim without having to put on foul weather gear each time. I can go on deck regularly and quickly without being too exposed,” explains the skipper. “It is built of composites and weighs in at just 30kg. It’s an excellent addition to the boat; it looks good, is well made and will be very useful.
“We have also installed a tiller instead of the usual double wheel so that I can steer and trim at the same time. [This new layout will also allow Dominique to stack sails at the back of the boat if necessary.]
“And finally we have installed a bucket seat inside the boat so that I can rest while staying close to the instruments and manoeuvres. We have improved and modified lots of small details, mainly related to boat handling – what might seem easy with a crew is very complex when you are doing it alone.
“We are currently adding the final touches before the rig goes back in over the next few days. I hope to be sailing again by the beginning of May.”
