Armel Le Cléac'h And the Maxi Banque Populaire IX Will Race the Lorient Bermuda Lorient
As well as François Gabart on the trimaran MACIF, a second winner of the Vendée Globe will take on the Lorient-Bermuda-Lorient race which starts on May 5. Armel Le Cléac'h skipper has just confirmed his entry on the helm of Maxi Banque Populaire IX.
"I am looking forward to being able to add to the history of this race," Le Cléa'ch comments. "In the Ultim 32/23 class, our aim is it mix great races, solo and crewed, because these boats are designed to be pushed to the maximum of their potential with a crew on board too. It will be important to pick a good crew and be able to keep up the pace because this is not a short sprint and so the team needs to gel, to work perfectly together and so we will really be able to enjoy the boat and share the experience."
For those skippers are preparing to start the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, the course of Lorient-Bermuda-Lorient promises to be a good, challenging race. "We will encounter winds that can be very changeable; in May, there may still be bad weather, I think the race track will be very open, with possible options north, south, and middle. This course can look like ski touring with a complicated initial climb 'on skins', then a reach then downhill schuss to return to Lorient."
Lorient is the home where Team Banque Populaire has been based for many years, another reason for the skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire IX to participate in Lorient-Bermuda-Lorient: "We have great teams based here which are preparing all year round here for big events, there was a big race missing from the calendar. It is so nice to see this event back and I hope there will be other editions after this one".