The French skipper’s SVR-Lazartigue trimaran is at the heart of a dispute over a point in the class regulations of which it is a part, just a few days before the closing date for entries.
Will François Gabart take part in the Route du Rhum 2022, which will start on November 6 from Saint-Malo? Nothing is less sure. While the deadline for registration for the event is approaching (March 31), the French sailor and his trimaran SVR Lazartigue have not been homologated. Second in the 2018 edition, the man nicknamed the Little Prince of the oceans finds himself in a race against the clock to demonstrate that his boat complies with the regulations of the Ultim class (maxi-trimarans cannot not exceed 32 m in length) which currently includes three shipowners.
The position of the winches is a problem
Its representatives believe that the giant of the seas of Gabart does not respect Rule 3.11 of the International Federation describing the position of the winches in relation to the deck in order to ensure the safety of the navigator. The boat, launched in 2019, has already taken part in events. Associated with Tom Laperche, SVR Lazartigue was authorized to compete in the Transat Jacques Vabre last November (finished in 2nd place).
A “sporting injustice” according to the team of François Gabart
Following this event, the UItim Class commissioned three independent experts to rule on the architectural compliance of the trimaran (which had benefited from a derogation issued by the French Sailing Federation on the Jacques Vabre). This allowed, according to the team of François Gabart, to validate the conformity of the boat unanimously. But, not satisfied with these results, the Board of Directors of the Class refused the membership of the Trimaran SVR Lazartigue. A situation that angered the team denouncing a “sports injustice.»
“This situation is extremely damaging for the sporting interest of the race, that of the public and all the players in the world of sailing. As for all competitors, in this class and in the others, the search for performance, a value specific to all high-level sports, encourages innovation. This approach is in no way incompatible with the strengthening of security and compliance with the rules“, denounced the SVR-Lazartigue team in a press release. “I am sad for our sport to arrive at this kind of blockage and discussion, it is a not very sporting imbroglio“, regretted the browser for the moment blocked. Note that the race management is not opposed to the presence of the French skipper. The veto was posed by the category to which it belongs and without their agreement, no outcome is possible.
Towards a negotiation or a showdown?
Will François Gabart and his entire structure be forced to put the boat in the yard to make modifications in the weeks to come? This hypothesis cannot be excluded. In the meantime, SVR-Lazartigue wants to believe in a resolution of the situation through negotiation. “The SVR-Lazartigue challenge does not despair of seeing the Class come to its senses in the face of the incomprehension that its position will cause for the millions of enthusiasts who dream that these flying boats may still exist tomorrow.“, indicate the leaders after having specified that they “reserve the right to use all legal means at their disposal to assert their rights and obtain approval.»
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