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© Thierry Martinez

Géant

Géant then Vodaphone /NZ.

Géant was the last trimaran of the 2000–02 generation designed by VPLP for skipper Michel Desjoyeaux, who had the 2002 Route du Rhum in his sights. The deadline was tight and the discussions between the architects and the recent victor of the Vendée Globe were very productive. There was nothing revolutionary about her structure, it being an assemblage of parts made in the moulds of her six predecessors.

 

Géant’s innovations were concentrated in the appendices, in the form of trimmable lifting surfaces and larger curved foils which allowed her to rise out of the water more frequently and safely. For VPLP, Géant represented the first real step towards an ocean-going foiler.

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© Benoît Stichelbaut/Effets Mer

Launched in July, the trimaran dismasted in August… and then three months later she won the infamous 2002 Route du Rhum, despite two stopovers. The racing conditions were devastating for the fleet and of the eighteen multihulls taking the line off Saint Malo, only three arrived in Guadeloupe. Two years later Desjoyeaux made it two in a row by winning The Transat 2004. Sold in 2011, Géant continues her racing career in New Zealand.

Launched

2002

Category

Orma

Architect

VPLP Design

Builder

CDK Technologies
Sam C3
Gepeto

Materials

carbon

Length

18,28 m

Beam

18 m

Draft

5 m

Air Draft

30,48 m

Propulsion

Sail

Sail Area

317 m² / 457 m²

Award

2002 : 1st in the Route du Rhum (Michel Desjoyeaux)

2004 : 1st in The Transat (Michel Desjoyeaux)

2005 : 3rd in the Transat Jacques Vabre (Michel Desjoyeaux & Hugues Destremau)

Sun Fast 30 One Design

Paragon

Réalités