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IMOCA 60

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Development
DesignerVarious including
Farr Yacht Design
Finot-Conq
Joubert-Nivelt
Juan Kouyoumdjian
Marc Lombard
Owen-Clarke
Verdier-VPLP
Year1991 Onwards
No. built+100
DesignOpen
Builder(s)Various including
Cookson Boats
CDK Technologies
Green Marine
JMV Industries
Marc Pinta
Multiplast
Persico
Boat
CrewTypically 1 or 2
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionTypically Carbon Fibre Composite
LOH18 m (60 ft)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeCanting
Rig
Rig typeSloop
[edit on Wikidata]

The IMOCA ("Open 60") is a 60ft (18.288 m) development class monohull sailing yacht governed by the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA).[1] The class pinnacle event are single or two person ocean races, such as the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe and this has been intimately linked to design development within the class. The class is recognised by World Sailing.[2]

Class description

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The class is of "open" design, this means the boat is measurement controlled and therefore designers have freedom within the rules.[3] Several parts including the mast, boom and the canting keel ram and fin are one design for safety reasons.[4]

After several severe incidents in the early years of the class a self righting capability was introduced. Each boat must be able to self-right itself at any time. Every boat must prove this capability in a 90 degree or 180 degree test.[5][6]

Dimensions

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Design restrictions include the hull length to be between 59 and 60 feet (18 m) and maximum draft of 4.5 metres (15 ft). The length including the bowsprit may not exceed 20.12 m. The max beam is 5,85 m. A maximum of four ballast tanks is allowed. Each of them has a limit in size.[4]

Hull

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The hull of the IMOCAs have typically a very wide hull compared to yachts designed for coastal races. This is supposed to give more stability in wilder sea states. The mid 2000s boats had mostly a very streamlined hull optimized to create very few turbulences, thus reducing resistance.

With the introduction of foils the stresses the hull is expected to sustain changed. For one on the points where the foils are attached, secondly the contact point between hull and waves moved further back. As a result older boats retrofitted with foils often needed also a strengthened hull. To increase performance in heavy seas scow-bows were introduced in the class.[7] First introduced on L'Occitane these are supposed to reduce nose diving, which are lowering the average speed significantly.

Cockpit

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The first IMOCAs had a fully open cockpit where winches and ship's wheel(s) were located. With progressing development the work area got more and more protected by a roof open to the back, sometimes also called cave. The ship's wheels were mostly replaced by different versions of tillers as autopilots took over more of the steering. In boats of the 2020 generation the first fully enclosed cockpits appeared; these allow the skippers to stay dry most of the time.

Rigging

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The mast of IMOCA, which is held in place by several stays is able to turn with the main sail, typically it has about 180 m2. The area of the main sail can be adjusted by lowering it towards the boom, its bottom attachment. The main sail is fully battened.[8] To improve the performance of the mainsail the gap between boom and hull/cockpit might be closed. Charal 2 implemented this first.

Forward of the mast, most boats have at least four forestays which can carry headsails. Three of these are usually attached to the deck and, as well as bracing the mast, can carry jibs. The fourth stay runs from the mast to the tip of the bowsprit and is used for gennaker or spinnaker sails.[8] The number of headsails that can be taken into a race is limited by most race regulations.[9]

1: main mast; 2: spreaders; 3: keel; 4: shrouds; 5: S-foil retracted; 6: S-foil extended; 7: C-foil (like Hugo Boss 7); 8: daggerboard; 9: C-foil (like Corum)

Appendages

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Two rudders and one keel are mandatory. The keel is allowed to be tilted up to 38 degrees to either side.[4] The rudders are not allowed to have any appendages that provide lift. Certain rudder designs such as the inverted V-shape on Charal 2 are able to provide some lift.[10]

Additionally, two more appendages are allowed. Typically these are either hydrofoils or daggerboards. Both types of appendages are typically able to be (partially) retracted.[5] The rake/angle of the foils can be changed up to 5 degrees.[4]

Autopilot

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Each boat is equipped with an autopilot that keeps the boat going constantly to allow the skipper to turn to other tasks.[11] The autopilot uses sensors that allow it to take into account sudden variations in apparent wind, speed, load on the foils and sails. Automated obstacle avoidance, whether it is the other ships detected by radar, AIS, or obstacles detected by the OSCAR system, a system to detect unknown floating objects.[12] The data provided by the sensors allow the autopilot to steer the boat with the best wind angle and to avoid boat-breaking loads.

Rule changes under discussion

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Evolution of autopilot: Hydraulic control of the adjustment of the sails and the foils. For reasons of cost and maturity of technology, this track is still excluded from all the rules. However, on flying sailboats that are increasingly akin to aircraft in mechanical terms, it seems inevitable that the automated servo-controls already developed and generalized in aviation will be adapted to the world of foiling boats.[13]

T-Rudders: Elevators in the back of the boat have been discussed.[14] The IMOCA general assembly has voted against the introduction, most recently in October 2023.[15]

Mast: Due to the increasing loads to the mast due to foiling, changes to the one design mast are under discussion.[15]

History

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The first major sailing competition in which the Open 60s appeared was the 1986 BOC Challenge.[16] The first boats were only limited by their length, up to 15 tons heavy and mostly constructed from aluminium.[17]

Major milstones in the history of the IMOCA 60s:

Events

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IMOCA 60 races
Name Location Sailing mode Race mode Length[* 1]

(nautical miles)

Limited to IMOCA 60 Cycle First[* 2] Last Notes
Vendée Globe around the world single handed non-stop 24 000 yes 4 years 1989 ongoing
The Ocean Race around the world crewed staged varying no 4 years 1973 ongoing [19]
Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic double handed non-stop varying no 2 years 1993 ongoing
Route du Rhum transatlantic single handed non-stop 3 542 no 4 years 1978 ongoing
The Transat[* 3] transatlantic single handed non-stop 3 750 no 4 years 1960 ongoing
Retour à la base[* 4] transatlantic single handed non-stop 3 500 yes unregular 2007 ongoing
Transat New York Vendée transatlantic single handed non-stop 3 600 yes unregular 2016 ongoing
Rolex Fastnet Race European offshore various non-stop 605 no 2 years 1925 ongoing
Vendée Arctic European offshore single handed non-stop 1 200 yes unregular 2020 ongoing
The Ocean Race Europe European offshore crewed staged varying no tbd 2021 ongoing
Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race European offshore various non-stop 1 200 yes unregular 2019 ongoing [20]
Le Défi Azimut European offshore various non-stop 500 yes yearly 2011 ongoing [21]
Major former races
Barcelona World Race[22] around the world double handed non-stop yes 4 years 2007 2015
Velux 5 Oceans Race around the world single handed staged varying no 4 years 1982 2011
Calais Round Britain Race [fr] European offshore various non-stop yes 2 years 2003 2007
  1. ^ The length can vary widely between editions of the races
  2. ^ Not necessarily with IMOCA 60 participation from start
  3. ^ Originally Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race
  4. ^ Formerly Transat B to B

Other races with IMOCA 60 participation:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Classes". sailing.org. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Open 60 Monohull Classes and Equipment..." Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  3. ^ "INTERNATIONAL MONOHULL OPEN CLASS ASSOCIATION I.M.O.C.A. : OPEN 60' ISAF INTERNATIONAL CLASS : Class Rules - 2008 : Version 1" (PDF). Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "Decoding an IMOCA: the main design characteristics in 3 diagrams". BoatsNews.com. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  5. ^ a b Wilson, Kristi (2021-09-08). "Mark Chisnell on IMOCA 60 11.2: The Design Solutions". 11th Hour Racing Team. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  6. ^ "Malizia Passes The 90 Degree Self Righting Test". Pressure-Drop.us. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  7. ^ Vela, Giornale della (2022-10-13). "Scow bows : the phenomenon explained by Sam Manuard". Giornale della Vela. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  8. ^ a b "Understanding the sails of an IMOCA in the Vendée Globe". BoatsNews.com. 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  9. ^ "Eleven critical choices for each team". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  10. ^ "Stronger and smarter". www.seahorsemagazine.com. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  11. ^ "Actualités - Vendée Globe et haute technologie. Les pilotes automatiques - Vendée Globe". www.vendeeglobe.org (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  12. ^ "Actualités - Face aux 'Ofni', sécurité renforcée - Vendée Globe". www.vendeeglobe.org (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  13. ^ "America's Cup. Les jeux sont-ils faits ?".
  14. ^ Link, Katy (2021-09-08). "Mark Chisnell on IMOCA 60 '11.2': The Design Challenge". 11th Hour Racing Team. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  15. ^ a b "IMOCA Class votes against T-rudders and approves on-going work on reducing emissions". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  16. ^ a b c "IMOCA Class rules". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  17. ^ a b c "The Evolution of the IMOCA 60 | Sailing World". www.sailingworld.com. 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  18. ^ a b "About the IMOCA Class". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  19. ^ "Agreement will see IMOCA 60 boats in next race". Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18. Archived from the original on 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  20. ^ "Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race". Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  21. ^ "Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération 2022". www.defi-azimut.net. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  22. ^ "Barcelona World Race". Archived from the original on 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  23. ^ "ArMen Race". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  24. ^ "Grand Prix Guyader". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  25. ^ "1st Monaco Globe Series - All to play for". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  26. ^ "Drheam-Cup 700". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  27. ^ "Europa Warm-Up Race - Final major event before Vendée Globe start". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  28. ^ "Istanbul Europa Race - Estrella Damm Sailing Team tacitcs important". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  29. ^ "Bermudes 1000 Race – Douarnenez / Cascais". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  30. ^ "Record SNSM". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  31. ^ "Transat St Barth - Port La Forêt". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  32. ^ "Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race - Triumph through guile and determination". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  33. ^ "Giraglia Rolex Race". www.imoca.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  34. ^ "News - Alex Thomson taking part in the Sydney-Hobart - Vendée Globe - En". www.vendeeglobe.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  35. ^ admin (2007-06-27). "Transat Québec/Saint-Malo". Voyage à travers le Québec (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  36. ^ "La Transat Québec/St Malo 2008". www.bateaux-de-saint-malo.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  37. ^ "Results - Newport Bermuda Race". bermudarace.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
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