IMOCA (International Monohull Open Classes Association), an international class recognized by the ISAF in 2001, was created over twelve years ago, some months after the first edition of the Vendée Globe. As a result several ocean-going racers wishing to organise their practice sessions and establish some class rules for their 60 foot monohulls, decided to form themselves into a federation : Isabelle Autissier, Christophe Auguin, Alain Gautier and Jean Luc Van Den Heede are the founding members of IMOCA, currently presided over by Luc Talbourdet.

Today, the class brings together both Open 50 and 60 footers - a good thirty boats - two monohull categories whose measurements are governed by a class rule that remains open to architectural design, but strictly adheres to the safety criteria (insubmersibility, stability..).
The key events of the class are the two single-handed round the world races which take place every four years : the Vendée Globe (without stopovers) and Around Alone (with stopovers), recently won by Bernard Stamm. The other great classics are the single-handed transatlantics like the Route du Rhum and The Transat ; and double-handed races like the Transat Jacques Vabre ; and more recently the crewed races (EDS Challenge, Calais Round Britain Race…).

The " 1000 milles de Calais " will form part of the latter category since it will be powered by five crew. The race will be given a coefficient 1 for the annual ranking of the IMOCA World Championship.

Luc Talbourdet, Class President : « We are delighted by the organising of this race for many reasons. For starters it is the first regatta of the season and therefore as good a time as any to see how the boats handle after the work done on them during the winter. With crews the 60 footers can always be raced in such a way as to fulfil more of their potential, which means we'll get a real taste of the speeds these boats are capable of. The race format is particularly well suited to our 60 footers which are designed to race out at sea above all else. At the heart of the fleet, the first racing participation for the two new 60 footers of Roland Jourdain and Jean Le Cam constitutes an event in itself, doubtless attracting those curious to see them up close. Finally the appeal of the " 1000 milles de Calais " is also the two days of exhibition regattas that will enable us to be more accessible to the public and our partners. »

>> IMOCA 2004 Calendar :
1000 milles de Calais
Crewed race (5 people ), start and finish in Calais after rounding the Fastnet.
Start on 9 May 2004 from Calais
Coefficient 1

The Transat
Single-handed Transatlantic.
Start from Plymouth (England) on 31 May 2004, finish in Newport/Boston (USA).
Coefficient 4

Vendée Globe
Single-handed Round the World without stopovers.
Start from the Sables d'Olonne on 7 November 2004
Coefficient 10

>> The top 20 of the IMOCA 2003 World Championship :

1 STAMM Bernard SUI
2 JOURDAIN Roland FRA
3 GOLDING Mike GBR
4 DUBOIS Thierry FRA
5 BIANCHETTI Simone ITA
6 RICHARDS Emma GBR
7 RIOU Vincent FRA
8 SEETEN Joé FRA
9 SCHWAB Bruce USA
10 DICK Jean Pierre FRA
11 JOSSE Sébastien FRA
12 MACARTHUR Ellen GBR
13 THOMSON Alex GBR
14 WAVRE Dominique FRA
15 MOLONEY Nick AUS
16 KOCH Antoine FRA
17 DE RADIGUES Patrick BEL
18 DALTON Graham AUS
19 MUNDUTEGUY Didier FRA
20 DAVIES Samantha GBR

>> The Open 60 footers

Few parametres are defined by the Imoca Class rules other than the overall length, the draft, and above all the stability criteria (the boats undergo self-righting tests they must be able to right themselves whatever the configuration). Particular emphasis has been place on safety, notably at the end of the Vendée Globe 1996.
Several architects have made the Open 60's their speciality including Finot and that of Marc Lombard. More recently pools of designers like Humphreys/Owens have proven successful in the design of the 60 footers. The Bruce Farr company will also put in an appearance during the next single-handed Round the World. Designed for reaching - the preferred point of sail on a Round the World - these powerful monohulls with gliding hulls, took on the air of flying saucers in the 90's due to their very large beams - nearly 6 metres-. Today the architects have returned to more reasonable dimensions and now place the emphasis on versatility and the capacity to perform well at all points of sail.

Some particularities of the class : use of ballasts and/or a swinging keel, a pivoting wing mast (but not rotating), double rudders with one or more daggerboards. Certain boats are equipped with outriggers : large spreaders situated at the foot of the mast, also known as deck spreaders.

Special Characteristics :
Construction materials : carbon/nomex for the most recent boats
LOA : 18.288 maximum
Beam (not determined by the class rules) : around 5.50 m
Draft : 4.50 m maximum
Displacement : between 8 and 10 tonnes
Upwind sail area : between 250 and 300 m²
Downwind sail area : between 500 and 600 m²

>> Class contact details

Site : www.imoca.org