Oliver Heer spouští kampaň Vendée Globe 2028 zaměřenou na výkon s bývalou foilující lodí Mettraux

Operational logistics: refit, transfer and base setup

Transferring a refitted IMOCA from Lorient to Gosport requires a tightly scheduled logistics chain: a coordinated refit window, customs clearance for cross‑channel movement, and berthing arrangements at a UK base capable of supporting hydrofoil maintenance and crew training. The current plan schedules the handover after a comprehensive refit in Lorient carried out with Beyou Racing, followed by a phased transfer to the new operational hub in Gosport.

From an adventure finish to a performance programme

One year after completing the Vendée Globe in 99 days, Oliver Heer has moved the project from an endurance milestone into a performance-oriented cycle aimed at front-running results in the IMOCA class. The campaign is being rebuilt around stronger sporting and technical resources, a larger crew structure, and a deliberate competition calendar that includes fully-crewed and solo events to sharpen pace and reliability.

Why the ex‑Mettraux foiler matters

The acquisition of the 2017 launched IMOCA previously sailed by Justine Mettraux (TeamWork‑Team Snef) is a key technical decision: it provides a proven hydrofoil platform that finished eighth in the Vendée Globe 2024 and shortens the development curve versus a new design. The boat is undergoing a full structural and systems refit in Lorient to optimise foil geometry, rudder loads and load paths for higher sustained speeds.

Refit priorities

• Foil and appendage inspection — reinforcement and fairing updates
• Structural checks — chainplates, bulkheads and keel attachments
• Systems upgrades — nav/comms, hydrodynamic sensors and data logging
• Crew ergonomics — cockpit layout for solo and shorthanded control

Gosport base: strategic benefits for sailing and local tourism

Výběr Gosport as the UK base aligns with practical and career factors — Heer spent significant time overseas early in his career — but it also delivers logistical advantages: sheltered berthing, proximity to supply chains for composite repairs, and easy access to high-quality training waters in the Solent. From a tourism perspective, a professional IMOCA programme on site can attract visitors, create opportunities for shore-side hospitality around race periods, and tie into coastal excursions and museum visits.

Sponsorship: portfolio model and technical partners

The team is shifting from a traditional single title sponsor to a portfolio sponsorship model. This approach spreads financial risk, attracts multiple technical partners and aligns specialist suppliers with targeted integration tasks. Founding partners announced include Bossard, providing fasteners and access solutions, and Burgerstein Vitamine, returning to support the skipper.

Florian Heuter of Bossard Germany emphasises collaborative technical work to select and integrate the most suitable fasteners for the entire boat, while Tanja Zimmerman, CEO of Burgerstein Vitamine, confirmed continued backing following the previous Vendée Globe effort.

Key campaign objectives

• Accelerate performance development of the hydrofoil IMOCA
• Build an expanded technical and shore-based workforce in Gosport
• Use fully-crewed events to validate systems and race operation
• Secure a diversified sponsor portfolio for financial resilience

Racing schedule and the Atlantic test

The campaign’s first major race is The Ocean Race Atlantic, a fully‑crewed transatlantic IMOCA event starting in New York on September 1 and finishing in Europe. This race will serve as a fast, competitive benchmark to evaluate boat potential, crew coordination, and shore-side logistics before transitioning into singlehanded preparations for Vendée Globe 2028.

Participating in a dense IMOCA calendar forces rapid iteration: lessons from each fully‑crewed leg feed refit decisions, supplier priorities and crew training intensity. For fans and visitors, these events present accessible opportunities to see high‑performance yachts in action and to link race weekends with regional travel experiences.

What this means for travellers and local experiences

Marine campaigns like Oliver Heer Ocean Racing can stimulate local tourism: spectatorship of refits, shore-side events, and race arrivals add to the appeal of coastal towns. Tour operators and travel platforms can package race-related activities with museum tours, coastal cruises and on‑water spectator trips. GetExperience.com users benefit when these local offers are organised by verified providers and presented with secure booking and clear voucher confirmation.

Highlights include the team’s technical pivot to a performance campaign, the strategic relocation to Gosport, and the pragmatic choice of a proven hydrofoil IMOCA. Still, no amount of reporting can replace first‑hand impressions: on GetExperience, you book your experience from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments. The platform supports full and secure payments with voucher confirmation and allows you to submit requests for tailored tours or excursions that fit your preferences — Book now GetExperience.com

In summary, Oliver Heer’s transition from a successful Vendée Globe finisher to a focused, performance-driven campaign combines technical upgrade (ex‑Mettraux hydrofoil IMOCA), a new UK logistics hub in Gosport, and a diversified sponsor model to underpin competitiveness. For travellers and sailing fans this creates new opportunities for unique travel experiences, adventure activities, yacht parties and spectator cruises; it can be paired with museum tours with live guides, eco-friendly wildlife safaris, luxury adventure travel experiences or even exclusive yacht charters for events. Whether you seek interactive online cultural workshops before you travel or prefer on-water adventure rafting trips for beginners nearby, the evolving IMOCA scene adds a compelling axis to coastal tourism and adventure travel plans.