For 3 years, Eric Henseval took part in the design and update of the most famous Open 60’ trimarans using the highest level of technology within the yacht design firm VAN PETEGHEM-LAURIOT-PREVOST (MVP-VLP). Member of Alain Gautier’s FONCIA DESIGN TEAM, he was involved in the elaboration of the FONCIA trimaran. http://www.gautier-foncia.com

He was responsible for the seasonal transformations of GROUPAMA from 2001 to 2003, including more particularly the design of the centerboard with trailing edge flap and its mechanism of longitudinal adjusting system, and the addition of new curved foils. In 2003, he was entrusted with the responsibility of designing the lines of the new GROUPAMA trimaran, latest 60’ trimaran in the process of being built.He worked on more and more interventions on yachts such as SODEBO , BELGACOM.....from the differential helm system to pull up rudders, constantly seeking to gain more speed...

Groupama , Route du Rhum 2002

"All these boats are imagined and designed using the latest performance IT tools available, i.e. Computer Aided Design and Conception (CAD) in order to better deal with the technicity of each peace of a giant jigsaw made of custom elements, this kind of boat being mainly made out of composites. The slightest part of hardware gear may need weeks of focusing to try and improve in terms of innovation , these innovations being then passed on each cruising yacht.
Since accuracy and organisation are absolutely essential, all this work is prepared to be performed using machining and digital cut out (as per every other boat, whether they are cruising yachts or support ships)...
Let’s imagine the amount of work required to design a sailing boat composed of a central hull linked to 2 different tranverse beams with lines that are nearly impossible to create without the latest IT tools and the work of structure engineers. Add to the boat 2 external hulls designed so that their center of buoyancy matches the one of the central hull, 3 rudders, each tip-up to a different degree according to the system, centerboards of a unique construction that may vary in sinkage and angle of attack (sometimes with longitudinal adjusting systems). These appendages are aligned in sleeves which are machine cut to a 10th of a mm.

Now add curved foils more or less immersed, cant rigging that are longitudinally and laterally adjustable while navigating.

In addition, you still have to work out good longitudinal trimming balances and steering balances, according to the various lay outs of the sail area and the mast, work on steering systems, all different pull up systems for all appendages, and all the strains and loads calculated in tons.

You also have to work on deck plans adapted to elaborate manoeuvres both for solo navigation and a crew made out of 10 persons!

Out of this blend of complicated tasks, let’s design a boat which will be faster and safer (obviously within its own category), more reliable whilst always keeping in mind that this yacht must be a WINNER !

To sum it up, these sailing yachts are technically unique but also very complicated. Lately, people started to realise how easy it is to lose the plot : we get blind by following fashions. We create yachts that are more « everything » except sufficiently reliable in the meaning of the word "boat". We then end up with jewels which usually do not go out to sea very often, and always find themselves, according to an opinion we all share ,queuing at the "doctor’s"...

Let’s try for the designers, sailors, constructors and engineers, and all other numerous persons intervening in the creation of these yachts not to become in turn mere doctors for this kind of boats !

It’s up to us all to reverse this tendency." " nov2003  E.H.