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Testing, understanding, adapting, innovating… in order to make materials more efficient, more reliable, safer, faster. These are the values shared by Lalou Multi and the Arkema Group over many years, and the future Arkema 4 Multi50, due to be launched next Spring, reflects this continuity. While the boat’s construction is ongoing, Lalou Roucayrol continues to train its future skipper Quentin Vlamynck through countless real-life training experiences during which the two sailors take on the role of ‘beta-testers’ on many fronts, in particular by working closely with sailmakers Incidence.

It was with huge relief that Raphaël Lutard moored his Mini 6.50 Arkema 3 in the port of Le Marin in Martinique late yesterday, after 18 days 04 hours 09 minutes and 58 seconds sailing solo, in the second leg of the Mini Transat – La Boulangère 2019 race. Plagued by technical glitches throughout the voyage, the 24-year old skipper showed incredible determination and great maturity over the 2,700 mile course between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands and Martinique. After clutching 8th place in the first leg, Raphaël truly stepped up to the plate for his very first solo transatlantic crossing.

Initiated in September 2018, the construction of the new Multi50 Arkema 4 is progressing on schedule, and the first components are taking shape in the new infrastructures of the Lalou Multi shipyard in Verdon-sur-Mer (33). Designed by Romaric Neyhousser in close cooperation with Lalou Roucayrol and the future skipper Quentin Vlamynck, this latest generation trimaran will have different architectural lines from its predecessor. It will be more versatile, and also benefit from ergonomics adapted to its skipper and focused on performance. Another major asset: just like the Mini 6.50 Arkema 3, it will incorporate innovative solutions drawn from collaboration between the Research & Development and Business hubs of the Arkema Group and Lalou Multi. This prototype is due to be launched in spring 2020.

Initially scheduled for 22 September, the start of the Mini Transat - La Boulangère race has had to be deferred several times due to complex weather conditions jeopardizing the competitors’ safety. After three successive postponements and a 15-day wait, the start of this solo transatlantic race is at last looming large for the young 23 year old skipper Raphaël Lutard and his innovative prototype, the Mini 6.50 Arkema 3. So, at 10.30 h on Saturday 5 October, the competitors will be setting off to tackle the first leg of their race: a 1,400 nautical mile course between La Rochelle and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Raphaël Lutard talks to us just a few hours from the much anticipated start.

The construction of the Multi 50 Arkema 4 announced last year by Arkema and Lalou Multi is well underway. Designed by marine architect Romaric Neyhousser, this innovative trimaran will be skippered by Quentin Vlamynck under the watchful eye of Lalou Roucayrol who manages the project and takes on the role of coach. The three men disclose the rationale of the boat and review the progress of its construction, the boat’s launch being scheduled for Spring 2020.

A partner of the Lalou Multi team since 2013 on the Multi50 circuit and later the Mini 6.50 circuit, the Arkema Group last year announced the construction of Arkema 4, a new last generation trimaran due to be launched in 2nd quarter 2020. For 2019, Arkema and Lalou Multi have decided to focus on designing and manufacturing this new boat, while continuing with the training of its skipper-to-be: Quentin Vlamynck, a member of the Team for almost 10 years, and previously the skipper of the innovative Mini 6.50 Arkema 3. The latter prototype, meanwhile, will be skippered by the young sailor Raphaël Lutard in the events of the Mini calendar, with the Mini Transat-La Boulangère as the prime objective, the first solo transatlantic race for the 23 year old skipper.