NEWS

The JP54, 1st in the Tour de Belle-Ile in the open class

Over the weekend, the JP54 took part in the Tour de Belle-Ile with the creator of this fast cruising yacht, Jean-Pierre Dick, on board, as well as Thomas Normand, skipper of the Figaro FINANCIERE DE L'ECHIQUIER, who is a member of the JP offshore racing team. Seven guests sailed with them for the 44 miles around Belle-Ile. After 7 hours and 21 minutes of racing, the JP54 ranked 16th in the “scratch” ranking, out of the 502 boats competing in the race and 1st in the “open monohull classes”.

JP's impression at the finish: 

“A wonderful race”

Second time round! This weekend, Jean-Pierre will be taking part in the Tour de Belle Ile for the second consecutive year, on board the JP54. The JP54 designer introduces us to the event and his passion for sailing in magnificent surroundings. For an offshore racer, racing in a round an island on board a “fast cruising yacht” can be quite exciting.

Can you tell us about the Tour de Belle Ile on board the JP54? 

The JP54 will take part in the Tour de Belle Ile !

For the second year, the JP 54 will take part in the Tour de Belle Ile, a standard, friendly, yet competitive regatta that, every year, brings together all types of cruising and racing yachts ranging from 6 m to 25 m.

Last year, 486 boats took up position at the starting line in la Trinité sur Mer from where they sailed round this large and beautiful island off the Morbihan coast. The fast cruising yacht finished 15th in the scratch behind the multihulls and monohulls of the Vendée Globe and the Volvo Ocean Race. It was a fine performance for its maiden race with a flavour of travel.

Share the experience of an exceptional sailing day on board of the JP54 on Friday 27^th April sailing between Lorient and La Trinité-sur-Mer ! (For buying tickets, contact Absolute Dreamer + 33 02 97 87 86 05)

Wishing you a Happy New Year in 2012!

The whole JP54 team sends you its very best wishes for 2011. May it bring happiness, good health and fine sailing! Sailor of the Year 2011, IMOCA World Champion, Winner of the Barcelona World Race (with Loick Peyron) and winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre (with Jérémie Beyou), the designer of the JP54, Jean-Pierre Dick has experience an exceptional year. In 2012, he is off again to try and win his Holy Grail. During the year, Jean-Pierre will be sailing with the JP54 to relax between races.

Jean−Pierre Dick elected Sailor of the Year 2011!

Virbac−Paprec Sailing Team − Press−release /6 december 2011

Yesterday evening at Théâtre Edouard VII during the Soirée des Champions (Champions Night)*, for the first time in his career, JP was elected Sailor of the Year 2011. This title rewards an exceptional year 2011 for the gentleman skipper, with two double−handed wins in the Barcelona World Race (with Loïck Peyron) and the Transat Jacques Vabre (with Jérémie Beyou). The jury also paid tribute to his career, with five major victories on the IMOCA circuit, and his general outlook. Contacted by videoconference during the Transat B to B**, JP gave us his first impressions.

"It's wonderful, fabulous; it's a really emotional moment and I am very happy! I have had a fabulous year. I was not expecting this. I would like to thank Loïck and Jérémie for our combined work on the Barcelona World Race and Transat Jacques Vabre. My best moment in 2011 will remain the passing of Cape Horn during the Barcelona World Race. It was a moment of huge joy! It is so rewarding to pass this rock in the lead of an oceanic race.Ten years ago, I completely changed the course of my life to become a professional sailor. Ten years later, this crowning achievement is the recognition of the extraordinary work carried out by my team. We started out from nothing in 2001.
Our sponsors joined us little by little, we built three high−performing boats and we are all enjoying a great adventure together. I am extremely proud that we have reached this point today. From a personal point of view, it is great recognition."

* Yearly event paying tribute to sailors who have marked French sailing.
** Single−handed return Transat Back to Brittany between St Bart's and Lorient (3,300 miles). (Return from the Transat
Jacques Vabre).

Never twice without thrice!

By crossing the line at 9:15 (French time - UT+1) this Friday after 15d 18hr 15min 54 sec * of racing, Jean-Pierre Dick and Jeremy Beyou win the Transat Jacques Vabre on board Virbac-Paprec 3, after leading the fleet for eleven consecutive days.

2011 is a decidedly good year for the duo. A Solitaire du Figaro and a first Transat Jacques Vabre for Jérémie Beyou. A triple win** in this event and a second Barcelona World Race for Jean-Pierre Dick. Virbac-Paprec 3 beats the official race record held by Safran in 2009 in 15d 19hr 22 min and thus improves on the crossing time by 1 hour and 07 minutes. The skipper from the Riviera wins his fifth major event*** on the IMOCA circuit in 10 years. Quite a feat!

The start
JP: "The start was a high point with all the skippers and organizers considering the difficult weather conditions forecast. The postponement of the start was psychologically significant. It played on everyone's mental capacities and the decisions taken on board. We sailed in a strong gale in the early days. Many Imoca skippers then took a less windy southern route. "

The choice of the northern route
Jérémie: "Off the coast of Ireland, we lacked clear-sightedness and we tacked too late. We regained control and debriefed. This was a lesson for the future. After the Azores, we agreed on our strategy and the effort required. We were not reluctant to sail in heavy conditions, it was a good decision."
JP: "We deliberately chose a northern route from the beginning, because it seemed faster. We met with some very rough conditions. Passing through this ridge of high pressure off the Azores was a turning point in the race. The southerners were stuck for a day or so, while we maintained a speed of 10 knots."
"A determined, decided and persistent duo"

JP: "Jérémie has something in common with all of my victorious co-skippers (Nicolas Abiven, Damian Foxall and Loick Peyron): they are top-rate, well-behaved, and polite people. He is an exceptional, tenacious and first class racer; in this respect we are very similar. His ability to make headway with the boat all the time amazes me, as does his incredible motivation. I did everything to ensure that Jérémie felt a part of the project and was able to say what he liked. We work really well as a team. He gives the best of himself, and handles the boat 100%. He is a nice, pleasant person and it was a real pleasure to spend these sixteen days with him."

Jérémie: "It was a real pleasure to sail with JP. He is really pleasant, engaging, and a great friend. I found that he was very tough, determined and unrelenting. He never lets go. It is better to have Jean-Pierre with you than against you!"

11 days of domination
JP: "We struggled to find our feet on the first three days, and then three quarters of the way through the race, we showed that we were the boss, since we stuck to our strategy and took our decisions and fate in hand. We have done a good job, and went flat out and it paid off!"
Jérémie: "It is always enjoyable to lead a race, take the right strategic decisions and manage to widen the gap between you and your followers. We did things simply, just as we hoped, with common sense. The duo worked well on board Virbac-Paprec 3 and the boat sailed fast. This gives you an extra thrill!"

Victory!
JP: "It's fantastic. There was a top-class line-up in the Imoca class. With Jeremy it was a beautiful moment of sailing. I find it hard to realize that I have won my third Transat Jacques Vabre. There are few people who have done this. This is wonderful. I do not know how to explain this triple win. I have a feeling, some kind of chemistry with this race. This fires you up again, it's a boost and of great benefit to everyone."
Jérémie: "The two Jacques Vabres that I raced in resulted in two fourth places. To finally win a big transatlantic race, and double-handed at that, which is not my favourite, gives me great pride. Especially since the pressure was on me, because normally if you take part in a double-handed race with Jean-Pierre you win. I was tense from the start. The test was a success! It was a success because JP knows how to provide his partner with the keys and share information, he is the ideal mate!

* Their race time was 15d 18hr 15min 54 sec. Their average course speed was 12.51 knots. They sailed 5,167 miles on the water at an average speed of 13.66 knots. Reminder: the race's theoretical distance was 4,730 miles.
** Jean-Pierre Dick won the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2003 with Nicolas Abiven, Virbac-Paprec Sailing Team's current Technical Manager, and with Loïck Peyron in 2005.
*** Three wins in the Transat Jacques Vabre, two victories in the Barcelona World Race 2008 and 2011

A busy end to the season for the JP54

The JP54, which arrived in the Mediterranean early in the month of September, has taken part in a large number of events. It was present for the second time at the Cannes boat show, and then sailed at the Monaco regattas and the Voiles de Saint-Tropez on day-trips for private individuals. It is currently being shown at the Genoa boat show which started on 1st October and ends 10th October 2011.

The second appearance of the JP54 at the Cannes boat show again stirred up a lot of interest.  It was a new opportunity to show the JP54, with several developments made on the new less extreme version: the JP54 Racer. Despite a lower attendance at the show, the JP54 was given a great welcome and confirms its originality in relation to traditional yachts.

The boat then sailed in the Mediterranean, dear to its creator, Jean-Pierre Dick, for the Monaco and Voiles de Saint-Tropez regattas. These days sailing enabled several people to discover the pleasure of completely safe fast comfortable sailing.

From 1st to 10th October, the JP54 is being shown at the Genoa boat show. It will then return to its home port of Lorient on the Atlantic coast.
 

Cannes Boat Show, 6-11 September 2011

After a year of great racing and cruising, the JP54 left Lorient on Monday 22 August to head for the Mediterranean and the boat shows of Cannes and Genoa. Designer Stephanie Marin will be attending the Cannes Boat Show.

Since its launch in 2010 the JP54 has been updated with a number of optional features such as a dodger, an outdoor table, and helm grab rails. The 2011 Cannes Boat Show will be a great opportunity to show off these available extras.
 
The man behind the JP54, Jean-Pierre Dick, has sailed the boat in some prestigious races such as the Tour de Belle-île, Tour de l'île de Groix and the Round the Island Race. In the summer he cruised over to the Isle of Wight to take part in the Rolex Fastnet Race, this time aboard the IMOCA class Virbac Paprec 3.

The JP54 has already received 2 design awards: “The Nautical Design Award” on 21 October 2010 in Milan and the “HEC Jury's Special Mercure Prize” on 19 January 2011 in Paris. During the Cannes Boat Show designer Stephanie Marin will be giving private tours of the boat by appointment.

Making its second consecutive appearance at the Cannes Boat Show, which this year runs from 6–11 September, the JP54 will be in the water alongside the famous Quai Saint-Pierre (QSP) at stand 115.

The JP54 is available for viewing during the show.
Viewing is by appointment only so please contact us for more details.
We look forward to seeing you at the boat show.
 
JP54 schedule
Cannes Boat Show
6–11 September
Stand number 115, Quai Saint-Pierre
Viewing by appointment only
 
Genoa Boat Show
1–9 October
Stand number to be confirmed.
 
Please feel free to contact us for more information or to make an appointment.
We look forward to meeting you at one of these events.

The JP54 makes a good impression

News JP54 / 27 June 2011

The JP54 made a big impression in England this weekend. The fast cruising yacht designed by Jean-Pierre Dick took part in the 80th Round the Isle of Wight Race. It finished 6th in real time and 1st yachting cruiser out of the 1908 participants, behind a multihull and four racing monohulls. Once again the JP54 has shown its speed potential, while offering the 8 crewmen the essential space and comfort after the race.

Jean-Pierre Dick: "It's simply incredible! I knew that the JP54 had great speed potential, but every time I race her out she increasingly surprises me. We finished very close to racing yachts such as the TP52 or even the Open 60 Artemis. Moreover, they were surprised to see us holding out on them with just two crewmen sitting out, when there were about ten on their side.

Speed at sea
The wind and sea conditions (25/30 knots) were difficult. We tacked again and again until we reached the Needles (west tip of the Island) and then we gave the sheets some slack. This is where we stood out from the rest of the fleet; the armada! Downwind, the JP54 is impressive, planing fast between 15 and 20 knots on a reach and on spinnaker. The water ran over the deck then! In the end, I am very proud of this place in the scratch.

Comfort at harbour
After this fast and wet day, it was very nice to enjoy a drink with my crewmen in a comfortable saloon. It makes a change from the Open 60! We had a good shower and shared a dinner before going ashore to take part in the festivities on the island. »

The JP54 on Round the Isle of Wight Race

After the Tour de Belle-Ile in May, the Round the Isle of Wight Race in June! Helmed by its designer Jean-Pierre Dick, the JP54 will take part in one of the great traditional English races. This year is its 80th anniversary and there is a record participation with more than 1,800 boats lining up at the start next Saturday, 25th June. The JP54 will have the pleasure of racing against all types of yachts with one or more hulls, between 5 and 20 m, and the joy of contemplating the magnificent landscapes of the Cowes Isle.

Jean-Pierre Dick: "I have always really wanted to take part in this very fine event, which is certainly one of the best English yachting races. I will be discovering the Round the Island Race for the first time and I am really looking forward to taking part in this sailing festival. I got a lot of pleasure out of sailing in the Tour de Belle-Ile last May. So I am starting the cruiser racing exercise all over again, since it is particularly suited to the JP54. She is comfortable and fast. It is very pleasant to sit in the large saloon the day before the race and enjoy a good dinner. She was designed to sail fast and provides even more sensations that I thought. It will be simply an enjoyable moment with a crew of friends.  Of course, our goal is to sail as fast as possible while enjoying the wonderful landscapes around the Isle of Wight, particularly the huge limestone cliffs. It's a magical island!"

New, unusual, and very high-performing

This weekend, Jean-Pierre Dick invited two couples of friends for a cruise on board the JP54. Leaving Lorient, they headed out to the Glénan, a delightful string of islands off the coast of Brittany.

Among them, Claudie Verner, the head of department at the French magazine called Télé Star, tells us about his amazing weekend on board the JP54 and gives us his impressions. Story…

What was your first impression when you went on board?
"When you go on board, you feel the amount of space. I am used to a cruising monohull. She is so large that I immediately got the feeling that I was embarking on a multihull. There were 8 of us on board and there wasn't a single moment when we walked on each other's feet. The cockpit is a huge terrace, and it's very pleasant for sailing and manoeuvring. All 8 of us dined around the table topside!"

And what about inside?
"It's stunning because the yacht is bright and spacious. She is white, and there's light everywhere. You feel as though you are at a design show, because it's totally new. The work on the symmetric curves on the boat's sides with the white seat cushions and the orange edging, gives a modern feel in a cruising yacht that goes far beyond all sailing conventions."

What about sailing?
"The pleasure is that of sailing a monohull. She heels and she catches the wind. You really sail, you make headway at the speed of the wind on spinnaker. Incredible!"

And at anchor?
"There's space everywhere. She's very well designed. For example, the large draining rack in the galley is wonderful, because you wash dishes for 8 people and you put them into it. You don't need to put everything away immediately, and it doesn't get in the way. The cabins are spacious and you can get dressed standing up. There's lots of storage space. It's very practical with wardrobes that are closed using nets instead of doors which take up a lot of space and aren't practical when you're sailing. Lots of details like that one come directly from racing. Jean-Pierre found many clever ideas to simplify life on his racing yacht as he raced round the world. The JP54 benefits from these. This is very reassuring for an owner!"

What would be your dream destination on this yacht?
"Corsica, because it's a very practical boat, quick to anchor in light breezes when you're sailing. The JP54 is perfect for coastal navigation in the Mediterranean. This yacht makes you want to explore wild places where nobody can be found. Since you're not on top of each other, you can spend more time at sea without having to visit a marina for a breath of air."

How would you define the JP54 in a few words?
"She's new, unusual, and very high-performing where her two main characteristics are concerned: her speed taken from yacht racing and her design coming from her modernity."

The JP54 has done particularly well at the Tour de Belle-Ile

The Tour de Belle-Ile is to France what the Round the Isle of Wight is to England. It is a standard, friendly, yet competitive regatta that, every year, brings together all types of cruising and racing yachts ranging from 6 m to 25 m.

Last Saturday, 486 boats took up position at the starting line in la Trinité sur Mer from where they sailed round this large and beautiful island off the Morbihan coast. The fast cruising yacht, helmed by its designer Jean-Pierre Dick, finished 15th in the scratch behind the multihulls and monohulls of the Vendée Globe and the Volvo Ocean Race. It was a fine performance for its maiden race with a flavour of travel.

Jean-Pierre Dick: “Just back from my round-the-world*, it was unbelievably enjoyable to take part in this race. It was an invitation to travel spiced up with a flavour of racing, which corresponds perfectly to the spirit of JP54. We sailed around the magnificent landscapes of the bay of Quiberon and the jagged coastline of Belle-Ile, beating at more than 15 knots under spinnaker. I am really pleased with the boat. There were five of us aboard and everything went very smoothly in a strong wind between 20 and 25 knots. The yacht is sound and behaves well, corresponding to my wish to sail fast and get enjoyment from it. In addition to this, we finished well just behind the racing yachts and we dominated the cruising yachts, which is a good result.


*Jean-Pierre Dick has just won the Barcelona World Race with Loïck Peyron.

A NEW PRIZE FOR THE JP54

The JP54 is awarded the HEC jury's special Mercure prize.

The awarding of the HEC Mercure prizes took place yesterday evening, on Wednesday 19 January. These trophies award businessmen/women bearing innovative and ambitious projects. Dan Serfaty, the founding manager of Viadeo, awarded the Jury's special prize to Luc Talbourdet. He acknowleged the work accomplished and an original and innovative project. “It is a great pleasure to see this project rewarded and recognized by our peers” said Luc Talbourdet, Jean-Pierre Dick's associate for the JP54 project. Jean-Pierre is currently racing in the Barcelona World Race and during the evening he contacted the jury by radio to thank them in person.

Interview with Luc Talbourdet, general manager

What is the aim of your company?
Our aim is to create fast comfortable cruising yachts. We want the pleasure of surfing AND a comfortable interior. When you have enjoyed the sensations of a racing yacht, you can no long do without them, even when cruising! This is made possible by transferring the technology and know-how of our offshore racing team.

What are its strong points?
We have created the fastest cruiser in this size of yacht. It is light and elegant. With Stéphanie Marin, our interior designer, we have also made design innovations and completely reinvented the interior layout of the yacht. It is spacious and functional. It is designed for living at sea and not just in the harbour, and our weak point is that we believe it is beautiful!

How is your business faring and what are your objectives for the future?
The first phase consisted in creating the model, and then we got down to building it. These two phases were crowned with success when the boat was presented to the public last September at the Cannes Boat Show. The 3rd phase has been devoted to constant communication, particularly with press relations in Europe. The media enthusiasm around the JP54 now enables us to enter the marketing phase more confidently.

What does the HEC Mercure represent for you?
It is a recognition of the seriousness of our project and its potential. We are very pleased to be recognized by the HEC community. We have kept links with them and have received, for example, the wise advice of Jean-Noël Kapferer, Professor of Marketing. Finally, this Mercure gives us the opportunity to make our potential known to investors and to develop faster. This brightens the future of a young company!

Awarding of the HEC Mercure prizes – D-1

The JP54 project has been nominated for the HEC Mercure prize in following category: the creation of a company under 2 years old. The HEC* Mercure is an award for audacious businessmen, and aims to promote and encourage the spirit of enterprise and the creation of businesses.

There are 12 candidates for this 12th Mercure prize. The results will be announced on 19 January 2011 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris, at the trophy awarding evening.

The criteria for selection
• Innovation: what makes the project original?
• Financial solidity: will the business model last?
• Ambition: what is the company's development potential?
• Ethics: what is the businessman/woman's career, and what are his/her values? Does he/she represent the HEC community well?

Will the JP54 project will the HEC Mercure? We shall have the answer on Thursday morning.

The 12 candidates:
Project category : VELISSIME – Sophie Chavanne (H.00) ; IDEAS ON STAGE – Philip Waknell (E.10) ; AÉRO-NAUTIC – Baptiste Regas (M.07)

Recent creation category: NESTOR WASH – David Allouch (H.95); KADEAL – Philippe Duhamel (MBA.96); HAPPYTIME – Benoît Sineau (M.95); JP 54 – Jean-Pierre Dick (MBA.97) et Luc Talbourdet (MBA.97)

Young company category : YOU TO YOU – Naël Hamameh (M.05); TELECOMMANDE EXPRESS
Geoffroy Malaterre (M.02) ; AMARANTE INTERNATIONAL Alexandre Hollander (MBA.05)

Takeover category: UI GESTION – Olivier Jarrousse (E.05) et Aymeric Balmont (E.06) ; NETINO – Jérémie Mani (H.01)

* HEC: Renowned International School of Business in Paris

Wishing you a Happy New Year in 2011!

The whole JP54 team sends you its very best wishes for 2011. May it bring happiness, good health and fine sailing!

The designer of the JP54, Jean-Pierre Dick, has been racing since 31st December 2010 on his Open 60. He is defending his title won in 2007 in the Barcelona World Race, double-handed round-the-world, with Loïck Peyron.

The duo has been in the lead since the 2nd day of racing. At the moment, he is sailing in the trade winds at more than 18 knots. The Open 60, which was built in New Zealand, like the JP54, confirms its speed potential.

You can follow the race on the following website: www.jpdick.com

As for the JP54, it has taken up its winter quarters in Lorient.