15 décembre 2023
Black Pepper® Yachts and Phil Sharp on their way to the Vendée Globe 2024 with the Imoca OceansLab.
IT IS WITH THE ANGLO-SAXON SKIPPER PHIL SHARP that Black Pepper® Yachts [Nantes – F44] will construct a new IMOCA bound for the next Vendée Globe. Likewise, the launch of this boat, of which Black Pepper® Yachts will also be Co-owner, is scheduled for summer 2023
First of all, It is, once again a Sam Manuard design. However, If she is in line with its predecessors built by the shipyard (Bureau Vallée 3 ex. l’Occitane en Provence – 2019, and Initiative Cœur – 2021) , it will nevertheless be very different from the latter. As a result, this is due to the numerous technical modifications, in particular to her hull shape.
Black Pepper® Yachts – Builder, Sam Manuard – Architect and Phil Sharp – Skipper, together pursue the common goal of building the most efficient IMOCA possible today. In fact, the team have taken a virtuous and sustainable approach. They have done this by developing original solutions designed to limit carbon impact. For this purpose that the build is utilising recycled and re-machined existing moulds. Furthermore, many parts will be built from bio sourced materials.
This pioneering IMOCA will also be the first to replace fossil fuels. It will do so by adopting a zero emission energy system. The OceansLab IMOCA will exclusively use hydrogen fuel cell technology. This technology is made possible thanks to a ‘Hydrogen Power Module’, created and developed by the team at Genevos. Phil Sharp, who has a passion for renewable energy innovation, is a co-founder.
Architect, Sam Manuard
More than 10% of the fleet will be a Manuard design at the start of the next Vendée Globe. Sam, both architect and racer, designer of boats with impressive track records. He confirms with this new boat the relevance of his cutting-edge architectural choices scow bow. In 2019, he was the first one to design with IMOCA L’Occitane en Provence.
25 Podiums
2 x World champion
3 x World speed records
Phil Sharp, one of Britain’s most competitive and successful ocean racers. He has achieved over 25 podiums in transatlantic and coastal racing. He has also won two offshore championships and breaking three World Sailing Speed Records.
OCEANSLAB will be the first race boat to integrate a hydrogen-electric energy system, technology that is applicable to a vast range of commercial and recreational vessels. The IMOCA’s zero emission energy system will power all on board energy, in addition to propulsion outside of the races.
“Replacing fossil fuel power with renewable energy solutions is an important step forward not only for our sport, but the entire maritime sector. Ultimately, I am sailing to win races, while also proving that by using the latest clean technologies, this can be done with zero emissions,” states Sharp.
Sharp will be competing in the IMOCA Globe series grand slam events including transatlantic races, the Transat Jacques Vabre and Route Rhum. he’ll also take part in major round-the-world races, the Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race.
