Lann Ael 3 by Didier Gaudoux is the 2024 Loro Piana Giraglia winner
A prototype designed for ocean navigation with a small crew is the winner of the windy 2024 Loro Piana Giraglia, historically awarded to the best overall result in corrected time in the most numerous group, in this case, the IRC.
This was a formidable achievement for Gaudoux and his co-skipper Erwan Tabarly, who, on a boat just over 11 meters long, completed the 241-mile course from Saint-Tropez-Giraglia-Genoa in 24h49m17s, surfing the big waves of this memorable edition. Lann Ael 3 is a prototype Sam Manuard and Bernard Nivelt designed, hence the model name NM35. The boat incorporates some features of the Class40 and has consistently demonstrated excellent speed.
Added to this was the talent of the sailors on board: Parisian Gadoux, who, besides being an exceptional sailor, is also vice president of the Yacht Club de France, a founding club of the Giraglia in 1953 with the YCI, and who with the previous Lann Ael 2 also won overall in the Fastnet race in 2017. As for his co-skipper, Erwan Tabarly, the surname needs no further introduction: son of Patrick, himself the brother of Eric Tabarly, and therefore a cousin of Marie… A French ocean navigator with extensive experience on Figaro.
The boat is a project of the Manuard-Nivelt duo; the NM 35 is a one-off boat, just under 11 meters long, with a semi-scow bow specifically designed to be sailed double-handed. Its hull is typical for downwind sailing, wide and chined. In the 2024 Loro Piana Giraglia conditions, it found the ideal situation to perform at its best, racing right behind much larger boats. Also noteworthy is the excellent seamanship, a sporting and technical achievement of great value, for having double-handed the boat in tough conditions.
The Loro Piana Giraglia concludes with the prize-giving ceremony at 12:30 PM tomorrow. On this occasion, all special prizes will be awarded, and the winner of the 2024 edition will be celebrated, an edition that, due to the conditions seen, will go down in the annals of this regatta.
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