The Mach 40.5 Manuard / JPS that broke the Class40 24-hour record
FRA 197 is a Mach 40.5 designed by Sam Manuard and built by JPS Production (La Trinité-sur-Mer), launched in 2023. The boat is skippered by LH Ocean Racing (Le Havre-based team), sailing under the colors of Sogestran and Seafrigo, two Le Havre-based groups. Guillaume Pirouelle (skipper) and Cédric Château (co-skipper) are the permanent crew.
Class40 24-hour distance record
On July 8, 2024, during the Transat Québec – Saint-Malo race, the Pirouelle / Alexis Loison / Jules Ducelier crew logged 440.2 nautical miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 18.34 knots. The previous record (433.53 nautical miles, 18.06 knots) was held by Acrobatica, set on Niji 40.
Boat achievements
- 2025 Class40 World Champion (Pirouelle / Château)
- Winner Transat Café L'Or 2025 — Le Havre – La Coruña – Fort-de-France, 19 days 2 hours 34 minutes 46 seconds, 7 minutes 21 seconds ahead of SNSM Faites un don ! (Douguet / Tréhin)
- Winner RORC Caribbean 600 2024
- Class40 24-hour distance record (July 2024, Transat Québec – Saint-Malo): 440.2 nautical miles at 18.34 knots
- 2nd CIC Normandy Channel Race 2025
- 3rd Les Sables – Horta 2025
- 5th Rolex Fastnet Race 2025
