The end of a Route du Rhum cycle
What is happening this year is not surprising, as it is the end of a Route du Rhum cycle. As on all supports, there are many projects mounted around this deckchair. There are few newcomers in sailing in general, and the Multi50 Class is one of them.
We won't do the Ghent Prix Guyader (May 3 to 11, 2019) because there are no boats, I'm the only one registered on the Transat Jacques Vabre, but there will be two or three more boats in 2020. That's 50% more than the Route du Rhum.
A class with a hybrid identity
The Multi50 class has had a hybrid identity for the first 10 years by welcoming boats that are too different. The races gave little visibility, fagocited by the ORMAs and the rise of the IMOCAs.
Three years ago, the class decided to take out the boats that no longer had anything to do with it. Suddenly, it had a lighter weight than at the time and a less attractive density with a higher membership cost, but this allowed the arrival of one-design foils on reliable, sexy, efficient and modern boats.
On the Route du Rhum, the Multi50 class is the one that has done the best. Certainly Lalou Roucayrol capsized, but not due to the weather conditions.
A class that impresses
The problem with the Multi50 class is that it impresses, just like boats. Before, we were sailing at 35 knots without foils, now we're teasing the 40 knots. It goes as fast as an ORMA, but less rock n' roll. Today, we are updating the image that these boats deserve in the face of Class40 boats.
A class that remains accessible
For a Class40 of the latest generation, such as Yoann Richomme's, a budget of 650?000 ? is required. The Multi 50 Réauté Chocolat, is for sale at 750?000 ? with incredible public relations sharing potential. For this reason, the Class40s are too small, the IMOCAs too versatile and the Ultimates require a lot of logistics.
With a new IMOCA built to win the Vendée Globe, we can afford three new Multi50s, built for the Route du Rhum. Certainly, it is not the same media impact, but the Open 60 feet are more expensive, the work sites are overbooked and the negotiations (design, structure, hours...) more difficult.
The Multi50s have an attractive price-quality ratio, performance, accessibility, visibility and cost. But the skippers need to be more interested and the sponsors need to think that it's accessible. It's a budget, but it's a great support. The Multi50s have assets that should be highlighted. It's going to end up being a match. There are partners who have stayed for a long time, and new ones who discover the class through sponsorship in other classes.
The race organisers accompany us and trust us. If 2019 is a mixed year for the class, they play the game. This is the case with the Brest Trophy (GPEN), which is postponed to September to give us time to get some boats back on the road for a great event.
A superb communication support
The multi50 is a spectacular and accessible boat on which guests can sail, as part of a project or race organization. People can experience unique things on our boats. Moreover, in our race rules, it is specified that a place on board must be reserved on the races for the organization. We offer entertainment sports, we make sport accessible, we offer meetings with the skippers. Boats are able to sail at 30 knots at 8 miles from the coast to bring them closer to the public. There's a real card to play.
The idea of the Multi50 is not only to be visible from your phone or TV, but to offer boarding. We don't forget the performance side either with sailings that can be extreme in doubles or solo. It's not insignificant to do the Multi50.
Ships that sail all the time
As a true communication medium, the Multi50s navigate almost continuously. When we talked to Lalou (Roucayrol) and Erwan (Le Roux), we realized that we were sailing every third day of the year. It's énorme?! Whether in racing, delivery, training or public relations.
We can bring the media, the public, partners, relatives... Last year, I took 500 people aboard my Multi Solidaire in a Platoon.
It is a fabulous tool and we must accept in our jobs to be in sharing, because we do nothing without others. There is an exceptional ease of reception and we must build on this. During the 24 hours of Le Mans, no one has the chance to go sailing with the winner. We do it, we take the public sailing on winning boats. That's why the Multi50 has a playing card.
