Multi One Design : The ultimate sailing worldclass 2010-2020

The MOD 70 ‘ Veolia Environnement was launched on Monday 9th January, quite early in the season after a first winter refit which was an opportunity to completely overhaul the boat. As these monotypes were delivered by the MOD organisation, it was important for the team to get to know the entire boat. Veolia Environnement was therefore taken apart, then checked and finally put back together… "We had to take a look at what goes on inside" says Roland Jourdain. With its new hull, a new antiskid and fitted with the latest transmission systems, Veolia Environnement is now ready for its first trip on the open sea.

The trimaran and its team will meet the members of the Gitana Team at the beginning of February for training exercises together in the Bay of Agadir. Two weeks of regattas have been scheduled, inshore at first followed by a week of offshore, on the open sea to test the boats' potential. Training is scheduled to begin in Agadir on 4th February. These head-to-heads are very important for the team and provide a unique opportunity to take full advantage of optimum training conditions. The second boat in the new MOD 70’ team, Veolia Environnement was launched on 14th June 2011. Since then, apart from the highly successful Krys Match meeting last October at La Trinité-sur-Mer, the boats have not had the opportunity to face each other on the water.

Roland Jourdain and his offshore team comprising Philippe Legros, Thierry Douillard, Fred Guilmin, Gurvan Bontemps and Ryan Breymaier, should set sail next week, on or around 28th January, for a journey of about 1250 miles or three or four days at sea depending on conditions. They will be joined by Fred Lemaistre and Christophe André who will make up the team for the season's inshore events.

Roland Jourdain introduces his dream team 2012:

"I wanted a multi-purpose team, both in human terms and in terms of skills. Living conditions on board the Veolia Environnement will be to say the least basic and it is important for everyone to get along. We have to get it right for it to work on all levels. We now have a group with very different but complementary characters. On board, everyone can steer, rig or manoeuvre..."

"With Philippe Legros, we go back a long way... I must stop saying good things about him! But, we are continuing on our journey together logically. He's a very important part of the team, he has rare human qualities and was a great help to me when I was setting up the team.

Ryan Breymaier is the technical manager on the boat. We've also been together for quite a while. Ryan has an unbelievable ability to adapt, at all levels. He is very quick on his feet and very pragmatic, with a very strong personality... the mixture is explosive and very interesting!

It's an honour and more than a great pleasure to have Thierry Douillard on board Veolia Environnement this year. Thierry has a great deal of experience and I very much like his very human approach to communication on a boat. He thinks in the right way... he's always very positive.

The youngster on board is Gurvan Bontemps. When I see him I feel 20 years younger. He's mad about it... And what's more he is an excellent sailor and his technical knowledge is nothing short of impressive. And he's the crew's Mister Fixit, really good with his hands...

Fred Guilmin, I think he's a combination of brain and brawn! He has extensive experience of elite regattas, both in terms of tactics and rigging. Fred is in the Merchant Navy, a real man of the sea... he will also be our doctor on board.
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It's a great pleasure for me to be sailing with Christophe André. He's an incredibly skilled guy. You have to see him to believe him, he's dynamite on board!

Fred Lemaistre, is the same. I love, I have a great respect for this mix of man of the mountains and sailor... I like this physical mix of humanity and humility..."

The Veolia Environnement team:

OFFSHORE: Roland Jourdain, Ryan Breymaier, Gurvan Bontemps, Thierry Douillard, Fred Guilmin, Philippe Legros

INSHORE: Roland Jourdain, Ryan Breymaier, Gurvan Bontemps, Thierry Douillard, Fred Guilmin, Philippe Legros, Fred Lemaistre, Christophe André

Havas Sports / Bénédicte Etienne pour Veolia Environnement