Brest welcomes the Multi50s
In September 2019, the Multi50 class will be performing on the waters of North Brittany. The 50-foot trimarans are racing 3 Grand Prix in Saint-Brieuc, Douarnenez and finally Brest. It was on this last stage, the end of the class' French championship, that the organisation invited us aboard one of these multihulls. An appointment is therefore made at the marina of the castle to meet Gilles Lamiré, the skipper of Groupe GCA at the briefing. Brest has to, it is the Naval School that is in charge of the manoeuvre. Grey boats will serve as a committee. The race management announces the day's programme: 2 built courses and one coastal course. The skippers are asking to add a clearance buoy to the planned course. The modification is easily accepted by all, in a Multi50 class with a user-friendly reputation.
1st edges in Multi50
Then I found the rest of the crew on the boat, almost 100% Malouin, like skipper Gilles Lamiré. All experienced in regattas, Pierre, Morgan, Thomas and Philippe have never sailed together before. The first few days are therefore an opportunity to make your mark. Gilles immediately sets the scene for the day: the goal is to sail calmly, without screaming, safely and without breaking. Unfortunately, the axis holding the gennaker tack broke during the first power-up, but a solution was quickly found and we had time to pull the 1st tack before the race. A pretty north wind of around 15 to 20 knots with gusts offers some pretty exhilarating first gliding sensations.
Demonstration of Multi50 by Lalou Multi
Gilles Lamiré is an offshore skipper. The built courses and their small edges are not his favourite terrain. After a few late starts, we are struggling to play with the other 4 boats in the fleet, which is largely dominated by Lalou Multi. However, sliding at more than 20 knots in a multihull is a real pleasure. It is easy to imagine the addiction of such sensations during long surfs in the trade winds. The courses are fast and the edges are too fast!
Nice manoeuvres in Brest harbour
The day ends on a coastal route that leads us in front of the Naval School. A better placed start allows us to stay longer with the fleet. The spectacle of our opponents' raised hulls and the power of these boats is superb. If the gap finally widens, the crew can be satisfied with clean manoeuvres, without raising their voices. The setting of the Brest harbour does not spoil the party.
The trimaran... almost accessible!
If we finish 5th on the 3 heats, the result remains positive for Gilles Lamiré. "The goal is to have fun." The skipper doesn't want to break up as the Transat Jacques Vabre approaches. As a guest on board, I did not participate in the manoeuvres. I felt the pleasure of the speed and the rather gentle behaviour of the boat. The sailboat is simple and without complex mechanical systems, except for 2 coffee grinders. The oceanic multihull would seem almost affordable. But the physical commitment remains intense.
