Take advantage of the virtual visit made by Silavisuel (Yann boursier). This tour is compatible with a virtual reality headset (only on smartphone).
Click on the image below to access the tour. 
SMA is a 60-foot IMOCA Open 60, winner of the Vendée Globe! It was indeed at the helm of this boat, then under the colours of Macif, that François Gabart led him to victory. This race-winning machine had a rather difficult winter following the injury of her skipper Paul Meilhat, who had to abandon her off the Azores. The boat drifted for three weeks before being recovered in incredible conditions ( see our topic on the rescue of the sailboat SMA ).
Today, the boat is under construction in the premises of Mer Agitée, Michel Desjoyeaux's team, for a complete refit. As the boat has taken on water, the engine, electronics and all the electrical wiring have to be changed. A few knocks on the hull also require re-layering. The boat is due to be relaunched in April 2016.
The boat hasn't changed much since her last Vendée Globe. The team has decided not to change anything on the boat, in particular not to succumb to the temptation to fit daggerboards.
Trained at the dinghy school (Laser, 49er), Paul Meilhat (33) appeared on the Figaro single-handed ocean racing circuit in 2008. He quickly moved to the forefront and confirmed his performance with a victory in the Transat AG2R (with Gwénolé Gahinet).
For the 2016/17 Vendée Globle, SMA is offering her dream conditions by entrusting her with the helm of the winning boat and Michel Desjoyeaux as préparateur! The same one that led to François Gabart's victory on this same boat 4 years ago. The method has paid off, Paul Meilhat has yet to confirm..
Vessel name: SMA
Boat number: 1859
Class: IMOCA
Architect : VPLP / Verdier
Shipyard / manufacturer : CDK Technologies / Mer Agitée
Home Port: Port-la-Forêt
Launch date: January 01, 2011
Length: 18.28 m
Width: 5.70 m
Mast height: 29 m
Materials: Nomex / carbon
Draft: 4.50 m
Displacement: 7.7 t
Ballast weight: 3,600 kg
Keel type: Forged steel
Type of rigging: Wing mast
Drifts: 2
Ballasts: 8 tanks / 5,000 litres per side
Upwind sail area: 340 m2
Sail area downwind: 570 m2
On-board power generation source: Engine generator / Hydro generator
