Because the 2022 Route du Rhum approaches, we check out a few of the prime names set to compete within the race. Helen Fretter seems at Conrad Colman’s possibilities
Conrad Colman, or the ‘loopy Kiwi’ as he grew to become identified, was the primary New Zealander to compete within the Vendée Globe in 2016.
Colman studied economics within the US, based a small enterprise and have become a aggressive mountain biker earlier than deciding that the world of bluewater sailing was the place his true ardour lay. He moved to the south coast of England in 2007, taking any job he might to fund his crusing and construct abilities, from working in a sailmaker’s loft to sanding antifoul.
Two years later he moved to France, becoming a member of the Mini 6.50 fleet which he described as “the very best offshore crusing college on the planet”, and competing on a shoestring price range.
A yr later he moved as much as a Class 40 entry within the Route du Rhum, after which onto the Class 40 International Ocean Race double-handed race all over the world in 2011, which he gained total – additionally profitable 4 of the 5 legs, crusing with a unique skipper every time.
In 2014 he moved as much as IMOCA 60s, competing within the double-handed Barcelona World Race with Hungarian skipper Nandor Fa.
Writing for Yachting World, he described his offshore profession thus: “Whereas on paper it is a speedy development I used to be at all times a day late and a greenback brief and progressed by accepting roles that no sane particular person ought to.
“I signed for my Rhum race three months earlier than the race began, I signed my sponsorship deal for the International Ocean Race ten days earlier than the beginning and I accepted to sail the Barcelona World Race solely 5 weeks earlier than the beginning. As a rule, this meant that I discovered myself racing by harmful waters on overpowered boats with full strangers!”
Regardless of having confirmed himself as a around the world competitor, makes an attempt to lift funds for a Vendée Globe marketing campaign fell brief and he determined to purchase an inexpensive 2005 boat to refit while nonetheless trying to safe backing. The boat arrived in Les Sables d’Olonne unbranded, and ultimately he signed along with his sponsor simply 48 hours earlier than the beginning of the 2016 Vendée Globe.
Colman additionally got down to grew to become the primary Vendée Globe competitor to finish the race with out utilizing fossil fuels, as an alternative utilizing renewable photo voltaic and windpower solely.
The Vendée Globe proved a battle of attrition for Colman, who needed to contend {an electrical} fireplace that knocked out the boat’s electronics, rebuild a leaky hydraulic keel ram and repair a damaged forestay after a 60-knot storm.
Then, simply 250 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal, Think about was dismasted whereas Colman was mendacity in tenth place. Having constructed a jury rig utilizing his remaining sails and straightening the broken growth, he managed to sail 740 unassisted to limp over the line, hungry however jubilant, two weeks later.
Colman didn’t take part in within the 2020 Vendée Globe, however has once more purchased himself a earlier technology IMOCA and is on the lookout for companions to assist his return to the occasion for 2024.
Conrad Colman’s IMOCA 60 comes from a technology earlier than foils, however is a tried and examined design. Picture: Fanch Galivel
IMOCA 60 Think about
Sail quantity: NZL 64
Architect: VPLP – Verdier
Building: Indiana Yachting, IT
12 months: 2007
LWL: 18.28m
Beam: 5.5m
Draught: 4.5m
Displacement: 8 tonnes
Mast peak: 29m
Foils: No
Conrad Colman has purchased Maxime Sorel’s former IMOCA ex-V&B Mayenne. Initially launched as Groupe Bel (famously branded because the ‘laughing cow’) in 2007 for Kito de Pavant, the VPLP Design/Verdier is reportedly the boat that impressed Colman to maneuver into solo offshore racing. It was broadly seen as a growth of the novel Safran.
The boat was dismasted simply two days into de Pavant’s 2008 Vendée Globe, then needed to retire from the 2011 Barcelona World Race with keel harm. Kito de Pavant returned with the boat for the 2012 Vendée, however was once more compelled out on day two, this time after a collision with a fishing boat.
In 2016 the boat returned to the Vendée Globe, this time as Le Souffle du Nord for proficient younger skipper Thomas Ruyant, and was close to the entrance of the pack when it suffered extreme structural harm – Ruyant reported hitting an unidentified floating object – and needed to limp to New Zealand for repairs.
In 2020 the boat made its fifth around the world race begin, and this time accomplished the circumnavigation, with Sorel ending a decent tenth.
