A unique partnership between the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) and Smartboat has been agreed at the Salon Nautique de Paris. Smartboat will be providing a customised 23 foot craft for use as the GOR Race Organisation’s official motorboat and support vessel at the race starts and finishes in each port throughout the circumnavigation. The manufacturers of Smartboat, MC-TEC in Tunisia, also produces the Akilaria range of Class40 yachts and is already deeply committed to the GOR. Furthermore, Smartboat will be providing at least two extra Smartboat 23 foot boats for official duties during the start and finish periods of the GOR in Mallorca.

The strong, light-weight and extremely nimble speedboat was the brainchild of Hedy Kardous, Olivier Dupont Delestraint and Frédéric Meunier following increasing demands from customers and friends for a fast, robust, exciting and reasonably-priced pleasure boat. The trio contacted Vincent Lauriot Prévost – half of the VPLP design partnership with Marc Van Peteghem – and production began in late 2009. Since then, MC-TEC’s yard has produced 48 Smartboats for the European market. Smartboat is now extending its sales area worldwide and partnership with the GOR is evidence of this expansion.

Hedy Kardous, President of Smartboat has driven the GOR-Smartboat alliance: “Smartboat’s partner, MC-TEC, explained that Akilaria’s connection with the Global Ocean Race had already proved extremely valuable,” Kardous confirms. “They have had a string of orders from French, English and American skippers who are planning to enter the 2011-12 event and the 2013-14 solo GOR,” he continues. “Most of the Smartboat customers are themselves sailors and we decided to supply Josh and his team with a new, customised Smartboat,” says Kardous. “This will provide a practical way for sailors and spectators at the race stopovers in South Africa, New Zealand, Uruguay and the USA to see our boat in action and will definitely contribute to develop our sales worldwide.”

With single or twin outboards or an inboard engine option, the Smartboat’s VPLP hull design provides a smooth, fast and stable ride in all conditions with responsive handling at high-speeds. With a hull draft of just one foot, the boat has access to shallow, coastal and inland waters. The Smartboat has a cabin and head combination accessed through the steering console plus a range of Bimini choices and seating layout options. Weighing-in at just 1,800 lbs, the Smartboat is simple to tow, launch and load.

Josh Hall, Race Director of the GOR is very happy with the latest partnership: “We are delighted to have Smartboat as our Official Motor Boat provider and these unique craft will be the perfect support boats for our event starts and finishes,” says Hall. “With the customised specifications we are developing with Smartboat, we can imagine many events and Yacht Clubs choosing Smartboat as their committee and support boats in the near future,” he adds. “Smartboat has an exceptional design and build pedigree and as a trail-blazing race, we consider Smartboat to be the perfect fit with the GOR.”