VPLP’s collaboration with the Saint Malo skipper and fisherman Franck-Yves Escoffier has been twofold, designing the 50’ trimarans Crêpes Whaou! 2 and 3, with which he won the Route du Rhum and the Transat Jacques-Vabre, as well as the 40’ aluminium fishing catamaran Lokeya (name derived from the first names of his three sons, Loïc, Kevin and Yannig). What are the advantages compared to a traditional fishing boat? Lower fuel consumption which results in a greater operating range or longer fishing campaigns, greater stability in all weathers, and a larger and more sheltered stern deck to facilitate the crew’s work and enhance their safety.

VPLP undertook in-depth studies leveraging computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to develop hull shapes suitable for the various load configurations (fish hold and tanks full or empty). Launched in 2005 almost simultaneously with Crêpes Whaou! 2, Lokeya would completely satisfy the fisherman’s expectations. So much so that a few years later he had another one built.