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le New design, new name: welcome to IMOCA Holcim - PRB which officiates the launch of the GO CIRCULAR campaign for Kevin and the Team
Launched in May 7th 2022, Kevin Escoffier's new IMOCA 60' recently went back in the shed for rebranding, now Team Holcim-PRB!
MAY 7, 2022
The new PRB, 6th of the name, has just been launched after a 14-month refit. It is surrounded by his entire technical team that Kevin accompanied each maneuver of his new IMOCA, yesterday for the exit from the shed, then today for the first meeting with his element within Lorient La Base. A moment filled with great emotion for the skipper who in spite of himself marked the history of the last Vend?e Globe. It is now aboard the first new generation IMOCA that Kevin will be looking to the future. The enthusiast of technique and competition now has only one hurry: to test his new boat offshore.
The first new IMOCA launched
Beyond being an outstanding technician and a demanding sailor, Kevin Escoffier is a formidable metronome. He knows how precious time is to make a high-tech machine like his Verdier plan reliable. He has therefore punctuated his schedule and that of his team to achieve this objective of launching in May. It was with this in mind that with PRB, he had chosen to buy an existing hull, initially planned for the Ocean Race, a crewed round the world race, and to transform it to adapt it to single-handed sailing. He estimates that this choice saved him about four months in construction. PRB is therefore the first new boat to hit the water. And that delights the Malouin who will now be able to concentrate on navigation and the optimization of his spectacularly shaped monohull.“Unlike the older generation IMOCAs, which have a pointed shape, the architectural bias today is to add volume to the bow. This is what we did on PRB with a wider and more powerful bow to prevent the boat from going into the waves. The objective was to have the most stable monohull possible which could easily achieve medium speeds, we didn't think of it with the aim of high speeds. ? explains Kevin who has bet on versatility and reliability with this new 60'. But if the design evolves, one thing remains unchanged on board PRB boats, it is the color orange, symbol of the Building Coating Products company which celebrates 30 years of sponsorship in sailing this year!
PRB, exceptional longevity in sailing sponsorship
While the PRB company is experiencing a turning point in its history, it remains fully committed to what has been promoting its values for 30 years: commitment, self-transcendence, teamwork. And it is with great pride that Olivier Troussicot, Managing Director of PRB, welcomes the birth of this new project.“Launching a boat is always a moving moment for the skipper, but also for the team and for us, the partner. It is the culmination of a long-term first stage in which each member of the team has fully committed themselves. And for that, I really want to say a big congratulations to Kevin and the whole team. With this boat, PRB is part of the continuity, but there is also a great deal of novelty. The company is evolving, it is at a turning point in its history. It is now the entry into a new family, within a large international group. All these novelties are exciting and there is great news to come to feed Kevin's ambitions, PRB's ambitions and those of all the employees and customers, the first supporters of the sailing project since forever! ".
The project led by the Laurent family since 1992 has successively enabled Jean-Yves Hasselin, Isabelle Autissier, Michel Desjoyeaux and Vincent Riou to write very great pages in the history of the company and ocean racing. Kevin took up the torch with the same commitment as his predecessors and the immense desire to share his passion.“It's a very special day because everything could have ended for me during the Vend?e Globe. But Jean-Jacques Laurent immediately assured me of his confidence and his desire to continue the sailing adventure. There is a unique spirit within PRB and values in which I find myself fully. It's an incredible opportunity to wear these colors and to present this new boat today, which is sure to be one of the most efficient boats for the next Vend?e Globe. Not only do I find it beautiful and with clean lines, but I know it will go fast on the water. From now on, it will be up to me to make the difference! enthuses the Malouin.
Expected on the starting line of the Azimut Challenge in September and especially of the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe next November, Kevin gives himself the possibility of participating or not in the Vend?e Arctic on June 12th depending on the preparation of his new PRB. . One thing is certain, the skipper PRB is impatiently waiting to discover the behavior of his new IMOCA offshore.
https://sport.prb.fr/en-mer/actus/27...coffier-et-prb
