Foto copyright Guilain Grenier
Fuente info l´Hydroptère
l’Hydroptère is back on the water for an exceptional programme
Yesterday, on 3rd May 2010, l’Hydroptère was launched in Lorient after four months at the shipyard. Lifted by crane in front of her shed, she was then moored at the pontoon of “La Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly”. She will stay there for one week, in order for the team to prepare and equip her for the first sailing sessions.
After having experienced very high speeds and achieved a double absolute sailing speed record in 2009, Alain Thébault and his crew members are now heading to the open sea. The “speed profile” of the trimaran has been transformed into a more versatile configuration which enables offshore sailing.
Accompanied by his major partners – the Genevan private bankers Lombard Odier Darier Hentch & Cie and the watchmaking manufacture Audemars Piguet – Alain Thébault and his crew members will make a European tour until next autumn and will take part in all the great nautical events of the old continent.
l’Hydroptère will start at the end of May with a stop in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, known as the mecca of British sailing and headquarter of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
This legendary club has been existing on the island for nearly two centuries and was at the origin of the creation of the America’s Cup in 1851. l’Hydroptère will sail in the British Channel during the first week of June.
Then the flying trimaran will head to Kiel in Germany. Each year the city welcomes approximately 3 million participants and visitors for the “Kieler Woche”, considered as one of the major world nautical events. l’Hydroptère will be present in Kiel from 18th to 27th June 2010.
After this first offshore navigation, l’Hydroptère will head back to her home marina at La Trinité-sur-Mer (Brittany) to carry out a quick intermediate technical check-up before a long route.
Then Alain Thébault and his crew members will head to the Mediterranean, where both absolute sailing speed records have been achieved in 2009. l’Hydroptère will stay there until mid-October and will be present for the event “Voiles de Saint-Tropez” which will take place from 25th September until 3rd October 2010. During one week, over 300 classic and modern sailing yachts will sail in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
The European programme will be a great opportunity for Alain Thébault and his team of “flying acrobats” to sail in various offshore conditions, to meet passionate people and share the dream that they always supported.
Programme in 2010
- From 31st May to 4th June - Cowes
- From 18th to 27th June - Kiel
- From 1st September to 10th October - Mediterranean
(from 25th September to 3rd October – Voiles de Saint Tropez)
