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First and
foremost, the Pen Duick story is a
history of boats started by Eric
Tabarly in 1958. Then, in 1973, Pen
Duick VI was built and the same year
saw the dawn of another adventure,
that of two partners - Eric Tabarly
and Gérard Petipas - who decided to
combine their knowledge of the sea
in order to develop specialized
maritime activities. The Pen Duick
company was born.
Pen Duick would
go on to become the story of men
passionate about the world of water
sports. With their considerable
know-how, experience and above all
knowledge of the sea, they started
producing studies with national and
international committees and
establishing nautical events adapted
to the needs of their partners, like
the double-handed transatlantic from
Lorient to Bermuda and back (1979
and 1983).
At the same time, Pen Duick also
organised two major record-breaking
attempts for Atlantic crossings
during the 1980s. In July 1980 Eric
Tabarly smashed the Atlantic record
on board "Paul Ricard" (held since
75 by Charly Barr on Atlantic),
making the crossing in 10 days 5h
14mn and 20s. In 1981 it was Marc
Pajot’s turn on "Elf Aquitaine" to
cut the record to 9 days, 10h 6mn
and 34s during the West-East
transatlantic from New York to
Brest.
In 1985 Pierre Bojic, a specialist
in the communication and
organization of events, joined the
Pen Duick company to help launch the
first edition of the “Round Europe
Yacht Race”, patroned by the
Commission of the European
Community. This fully-crewed race,
held every two years, proved a huge
success: a total of 8 editions would
be organised calling in 34 towns and
cities in 14 European countries.
The men of Pen Duick have actively
participated in the creation and
functioning of some of the most
important international bodies
governing oceanic sailing. As
renowned international consultants
for the creation of watersport
installations and nautical tourism
schemes, they have produced studies
for local, regional and
international authorities, as well
as studies for retail products
linked with the maritime domain, and
have marketed products associated
with watersports (in particular the
Pen Duick and Eric Tabarly brands).
Pen Duick advises local, regional
and international authorities and
communities about the economic
development and any other problems
linked with yachting and actively
works towards improving safety at
sea and protecting the coastline.
Today Pen Duick is one of the most
important players in the national
and international yachting world.
As a creator and organizer of major
races with a sporting, economic and
political dimension, Pen Duick has
organised numerous nautical events
since 1979, including:
- The double-handed Lorient –
Bermuda– Lorient transatlantic in
1979 and 1983
- The Lorient – St Pierre et
Miquelon – Lorient transatlantic in
1987
- The Lorient – St Bartholomew –
Lorient transatlantic in 1989
- The Twostar in 1990
- The Europe 1 Star in 1992 and 1996
- The Transat Jacques Vabre in 1995,
1997, 1999 and 2001
- The Challenge Mondial Assistance
in 2001
- The Regata Rubicon in 2002.
2003, an anniversary year rich in
events
For its 30th anniversary, a sign of
great maturity, Pen Duick intends to
confirm its presence in the world of
offshore racing by organizing the 3
major events of the 2003 nautical
calendar.
- The second edition of the
Challenge Mondial Assistance, due to
set off from Cherbourg-Octeville on
Sunday 11 May 2003 for Rimini in
Italy. The race is open to ORMA
class multihulls.
- Saguenay - Saint Pierre - Vendée,
a new fully-crewed race for Open
50s. The start is on 15 June 2003 in
the Fjord of Saguenay in Canada.
Under the initiative of Pen Duick,
the Saguenay - Saint Pierre - Vendée
race will open a new sporting
programme for Open 50 monohulls and
multihulls, a class that has
recently been established.
- The Transat Jacques Vabre, which
will be celebrating its tenth
anniversary at the starts on 1st and
2 November 2003 in Le Havre. This
double-handed transatlantic will
have a magnificent field of ORMA
multihulls, Imoca monohulls and Open
50s.
Gérard Petipas, the spirit of Pen
Duick
The Merchant Navy Captain and
Officer of the Maritime Hall of
Merit is not just a highly skilled
organizer of nautical events. His
involvement and actions in the
nautical world make him one of the
emblematic figures in international
yachting.
The man has sea in his blood and
many strings to his bow. As a
creator and organizer of nautical
events he has helped develop public
interest for sailing, attract media
interest and establish partner
loyalty. Strengthened by his
thorough knowledge of the maritime
environment, Gérard Petipas has
initiated and taken part in numerous
decisions and actions linked with
the development of the nautical
world and the improvement of the
safety of yachtsmen and women.
Maritime expert, founder member of
l’Union Nationale pour la Course au
Large (U.N.C.L.), Honorary President
of the Fédération Internationale de
la Course Océanique (F.I.C.O.),
President of the Association for the
Promotion of Yachting in Europe (A.P.C.V.E.),
member of the Conseil Supérieur de
la Navigation de Plaisance, founder
of Euro’Boat (premier European
second-hand boat show), he was above
all the friend, partner and
navigator of Eric Tabarly in
countless races on all the oceans of
the world.
But his action does not stop there.
Driven on by the spirit of Pen Duick
whose key words are innovation,
creation, respect and initiative,
Gérard Petipas and Pen Duick have
created events that have developed
and helped oceanic sailing evolve.
Pen Duick, 30 years of history in
and for the nautical world |
