Thursday 30 January 2014
For the Vendée Globe 2016, CDK Technologies doubles the stakes
2014 has only just begun, but already it promises to be rich, intense and thrilling for CDK Technologies, the Breton boatyard specialising in the construction of race boats. Indeed the company based in Lorient and Port-la-Forêt has just won the invitation to tender for the construction of two 60 foot (18.28m) Imoca monohulls, destined to compete in the Vendée Globe 2016: Banque Populaire, Armel Le Cléac’h’s boat, and Safran, the helm of which has been entrusted to a young 26-year old skipper, Morgan Lagravière, French solo offshore racing champion 2012.
The two partners had made common cause. Unusually, they then opted to join forces with a view to “optimising the build costs, whilst developing innovative, high performance, competitive boats.” They chose CDK Technologies, a naval yard created in 1984, by Hubert Desjoyeaux notably, which has become the European leader in the construction and assembly of race boats. To its credit, the Breton company can pride itself on having built the first two monohulls to complete the last edition of the Vendée Globe: Macif (François Gabart) and Banque Populaire (Armel Le Cléac’h).
For Philippe Facque, General Manager of CDK Technologies, the decision by the two sponsors rewards “the results recorded in the latest major races.” Above all, it comes as “recognition of the quality and work of the boatyard’s entire workforce.” Back in the autumn, the company was also selected for François Gabart’s future boat, a 100-foot trimaran, the construction of which is due to commence very shortly.
As such the next few months are likely to see very little downtime at CDK Technologies. Philippe Facque explains: “With three boats to be built and assembled at the same time, we’re going to be recruiting 10 to 20 new staff. This renewal of activity should help to boost employment in the region.” Fortunately CDK Technologies is accustomed to having to juggle several far-reaching projects. Indeed five of the boats competing in the Vendée Globe 2012/2013 came out of its yard (Macif, Banque Populaire, Akena Vérandas, PRB and Maître Coq). “We’ve not yet had to work on three creations of this scale at the same time however”, Philippe Facque explains.
The first meeting with the naval architects VPLP Verdier and partners Banque Populaire and Safran was scheduled for Wednesday of this week. From that point, the Breton company will very quickly get down to business. “We’ll have to commence construction from mid-February”, explains the General Manager. The first of the two monohulls must be delivered in December 2014. The second will follow six weeks later. In total, each of these ‘racing cars’ will have required at least 25,000 man-hours and all the expertise, savoir-faire and experience of a team that today is recognised as being one of the most high performance in the sailing world.
Discover all the latest info at http://www.cdk-technologies.com/
About CDK Technologies...
The history of the CDK Technologies boatyard began in 1984. Establishing itself in Port la Forêt, not far from Concarneau, the boatyard extended across to Lorient in 2006, where it benefits from a wider shed (1,700m2), via its subsidiary Keroman Technologies, used for the more imposing craft (Banque Populaire V). Specialised in the construction of race boats, CDK Technologies reinforces its place of excellence through the construction of industrial parts for the benefit of the group as a whole.
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