Vendée Globe: A well-tuned Renault 4 >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

61-year-old Jean Le Cam’s boat, designed by Bruce Farr of

Annapolis in 2007 is leading the 33 boat fleet through the south Atlantic, 

despite lacking the hydrofoils of the next 9 boats in the 33 boat fleet.

Vendée Globe: A well-tuned Renault 4 >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News: For the 2016-17 Vendée Globe, of the 29 IMOCA 60s, six new prototypes had been fitted with foil appendages and one older boat modified to include them.  For the 2020-2021 Vendee Globe 18 of 33 have been fitted with hydrofoils which give a 3 knot advantage in off-wind conditions.  Wily Jean LeCam describes his fifteen year old boat as a Renault 4 racing against Ferraris.