The new PRB IMOCA 60 is one of the latest to launch in a flurry of new launches. Originally designed for The Ocean Race, it will be Kevin Escoffier’s boat for the next Vend\u00e9e GlobeAs if the new PRB IMOCA 60 were not eye-catching enough, the story behind it is truly remarkable. The reason Kevin Escoffier needed a new IMOCA in a hurry is well documented: in early December 2020 Escoffier was racing in the Vend\u00e9e Globe around the world race, 800 miles south of Cape Town, when his previous PRB suddenly and catastrophically broke up.
\nThe previous PRB IMOCA 60, a 2009 Verdier-VPLP design that had been retrofitted with foils, sank without trace, leaving Escoffier not only without a boat, but also without answers as to why his yacht had broken up.
\nOne thing not in doubt, however, was his determination to start the 2024 Vend\u00e9e Globe. His sponsors were quick to affirm their support \u2013 pledging new backing even before Escoffier had landed ashore after his rescue.
\nImmediately after the 2020\/21 Vend\u00e9e Globe, however, the IMOCA 60 market was white-hot, thanks partly to the strong performance of previous generation designs driving a rush to buy competitive existing boats. Meanwhile a number of skippers preparing a 2024 campaign had already secured build slots for new IMOCAs.
\nHowever, there was one boat which was available \u2013 a Verdier-design that had originally been created as a fully crewed boat for The Ocean Race. It was in build at Carrington Boats in the UK, before a change of circumstances saw the project paused. Escoffier\u2019s team bought the hull, finishing the build in the UK before shipping it to Lorient for final fit out and launching.
\nPRB has the latest evolution Verdier foils for improved stability at speed. Photo: Yann Riou\/polaRYSE
\nRebirth of a new PRB IMOCA 60
\nPerhaps surprisingly given the fate of his previous boat, the first change Escoffier made to the partially-built PRB was to saw off around 4.5m of bow. But this was a pure performance decision, Escoffier explains: \u201cThe hull was designed for The Ocean Race. [Originally] in The Ocean Race a few legs were going north up to China, so it was quite a deep bow in order to also be efficient upwind. Whereas for me most of the races \u2013 like the Route du Rhum, Vend\u00e9e Globe \u2013 are more downwind races and single-handed.\u201d
\nThe bow was cut 50cm forward of the bulkhead where the J3 furler is fitted, and replaced with a new, shallower section that is designed for more downwind and all-round performance.
\n\u201cIt will be a bit slower upwind in light winds, but much better for downwind, and much better also for reaching because as soon as the foil is working the bow won\u2019t be touching the water as often. So we were looking for more average speed instead of top speeds.
\nRacing these boats single-handed, you\u2019ve already got top speed much more often than you want it.\u201d
\nBuying an existing competitive IMOCA would have cost \u20ac4-4.5m, with another \u20ac1-1.5m in modifications and new foils
\nThe team also changed the angle of the forward chine, making it more pronounced, and moving the forefoot aft. \u201cThat\u2019s in order to build some lift on the bow and not to nose dive again, the idea is definitely to stay above the waves. So the hull is not the latest design, but the bow is.\u201d
\nThe foils were designed especially for Escoffier\u2019s boat. \u201cWe changed their position a bit, and we used the last six sections designed by Verdier,\u201d says Escoffier, who says they are an evolution of the foils on the 11th Hour Racing IMOCA 60 Mal\u00e3ma. \u201cThe idea of these foils was, again, for more average speed. Since we don\u2019t have any T-rudders at the back, these boats are quite complicated to keep (from) pitching or flying too high.
\n\u201cThe idea of having a foil that is a bit more curved was to have something that was \u2018auto stable\u2019. Same thing for the shaft \u2013 to have a short radius on the shaft to be able to adjust the stability and the depth of the foil whether you want to fly high or not, to go above the waves or be in skimming mode.\u201d
\nFlying high for the cameras, but PRB is designed for high average speeds and stability rather than outright top speed
\nAnother distinctive feature of the new PRB IMOCA 60 is its scooped foredeck. This achieves two aims, Escoffier explains: it reduces weight by reducing the amount of material in the bulkheads, and it helps lower the boat\u2019s centre of gravity.
\n\u201cThe idea is to have the mast as low down as possible to lower the centre of gravity. On these new boats, since we\u2019ve got foils, we need less sail area. But if you\u2019ve got the centre of gravity and the centre of pressure of the sails lower, you heel less, and you go faster.\u201d
\nArticle continues below\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExtraordinary Boats: the new 11th Hour Racing IMOCA 60<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor decades the whole point of designing an IMOCA 60 has been to win the Vend\u00e9e Globe solo round the\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharal: On board the radical IMOCA 60 that takes foiling to the next level<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn St Malo for the start of the Route du Rhum in early November, every inch of the IMOCA 60\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHugo Boss: Sailing on board Alex Thomson\u2019s \u00a36million foiling machine<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cWhat\u2019s my speed? What\u2019s the speed? What\u2019s the boatspeed now?!\u201d Alex Thomson hollers into a microphone. Thomson, at the helm\u2026<\/p>\n
In a bubble
\nAs the mast is one-design within the IMOCA class, there is no option to lower the gooseneck fitting, but by lowering the foredeck and mast position the boom sweeps close to the coachroof. Escoffier may use soft panels to create an end-plate effect here, but he says extra mods are only added after they\u2019ve thoroughly tested the boat and know how many kilos of weight they have to work with.
\nThe coachroof itself tapers down rapidly towards the transom \u2013 you have to crouch when climbing aboard over the rudders. Inside the mostly enclosed space Escoffier has dual helming positions with custom-fit windows to create full-height working zones. \u201cWe\u2019ve got bubbles over the pedestals,\u201d he explains, \u201cfor me to be able to see around for safety, to trim the sails and also to stand up because everywhere else, you don\u2019t have the height.\u201d
\nThe concave foredeck is evident here as crew move around the deck. Photo: Photos: Yann Riou\/polaRYSE
\nThere are three reasons for the closed cockpit: aerodynamic performance; reducing the amount of water on deck \u2013 and in the boat in general; and to protect the skipper from wind and waves.
\nThe revised PRB IMOCA 60 has kept the twin pedestals that were originally specified for The Ocean Race, but the result is that solo skipper Escoffier can trim with a clear view of the sails on either tack. He will add cameras, particularly to view furlers and the bowsprit, but says he doesn\u2019t want to have to rely on them for general visibility.
\n\u201cYou can see everywhere. I will have my autopilot here. I can ease or trim and I have the helm. It was very important for me to be able to do everything from here \u2013 on other boats they need to move to see, then go back to the helm. You\u2019ve seen the issue with SVR-Lazartigue, the Ultime [Fran\u00e7ois Gabart\u2019s maxi trimaran is currently in a legal dispute about whether it meets class rules due to lookout visibility]. We have to be careful I think, not to open the class to mistakes where we could be criticised. Not to do anything that might make people say stop single-handed racing, as that would be very sad.\u201d
\nOn a training sail with Pascal Bid\u00e9gorry. Line tails run from the mast base through carbon tunnels to exit at the pedestal positions on each side. Photo: Kevin Escoffier\/PRB
\nCockpit seats will be added later \u2013 along with a beanbag for sleeping below \u2013 and canting instrument screens. Escoffier says he always carries an iPad onboard as a back up. \u201cSo that if you\u2019ve got nothing at all \u2013 you can charge an iPad with the solar panel and then you\u2019ve got maps, GPS, you can do routing, you can go back home even if you\u2019ve got a full blackout on the boat.\u201d
\nThe cockpit has also been designed to allow Escoffier to stack sails as far outboard as possible, and to move internal weight depending on which \u2018flight\u2019 mode he is sailing in. \u201cI think that the centre of gravity is a big fight we\u2019ve got on these boats. We want everything forward upwind, because with the foil we are flying, then downwind we want to delay the moment you put the [water] ballast in. The idea is to be able to move everything inside the boat first, to delay the moment you put in the ballast because then you\u2019ve made the boat heavier.
\nAdditional solar panels will be added to the hard cockpit top as Escoffier plans to race without carrying diesel. Photos: Yann Riou\/polaRYSE
\n\u201cBy the rule we can only have four [ballast] tanks. Before it was two at the back, two in the middle. Now with the foils, it\u2019s more like one at the back, one in the front, two in the middle. We use the ones in the middle upwind and reaching, at the back for downwind, and in the front for close reaching.\u201d
\nClever structures
\nDown below the build quality is evident \u2013 the boat is a web of perfect carbon and clean edges. Escoffier\u2019s engineering background shows in a centralised systems housing that includes electronics, keel and hydraulic control boxes.
\nOut of the water, designer Verdier\u2019s latest thinking in bow shape shows pronounced chines, designed for lift and fast average speeds offwind. Photos: Yann Riou\/polaRYSE
\n\u201cInstead of having single parts everywhere, it\u2019s all here. Also it\u2019s low down for a low centre of gravity, and you can access everything. Usually this is all right at the back \u2013 but here I don\u2019t need hatches so that means that it\u2019s lighter and if I have to work on something I can see directly which connection is not working \u2013 I don\u2019t have to follow a wire around the boat. Everything is here, so it\u2019s very easy.\u201d
\nHowever, much of the engineering is hidden, such as the anti-collision system for the foils. Besides hydraulic rams to push and pull the foils to adjust their angle of attack, there is a large diameter hydraulic ram designed as a shock absorber. \u201cIt\u2019s like a vang, very quick. You have to have a big cylinder of oil to absorb all the energy of the impact. Then at the back of the foil I\u2019ve got a bumper, and on the forward part of the upper bearing I\u2019ve got a 200mm titanium plate.\u201d
\nThe \u2018bubbles\u2019 over each helm\/pedestal position allow Escoffier to trim facing forward and look directly at the sails with standing headroom. Photo: Kevin Escoffier\/PRB
\nOverall, Escoffier seems delighted with his new boat. There were a few supply chain delays \u2013 and Brexit added extra complications \u2013 but from the worst possible situation he has found himself with a unique new IMOCA, ahead of many of his rivals awaiting next generation launches. He estimates using a pre-existing hull saved around \u20ac1.5 million compared to buying a new boat.
\n\u201cAlso nowadays we\u2019re working on sustainability,\u201d he adds, \u201cSo for me it would have been crazy to have a hull sitting there not being used. This was a perfect opportunity, so I\u2019m very happy. I think we\u2019ve got a beautiful boat.\u201d
\nPRB IMOCA 60 specifications
\nLOA: 20.12m \/ 66ft 1in
\nLWL: 18.28m \/ 60ft 0in
\nBeam: 5.50m \/ 18ft 0in
\nDraught: 4.50m \/ 14ft 9in
\nSail area (max): 565m2 \/ 6,081ft2
\nDisplacement: 8.2 tonnes<\/p>\n
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The new PRB IMOCA 60 is one of the latest to launch in a flurry of new launches. Originally designed for The Ocean Race, it will be Kevin Escoffier’s boat for the next Vend\u00e9e GlobeAs if the new PRB IMOCA … <\/p>\n