Flyer | First Figaro 3 In Annapolis

The mast is set back, providing balance under sail. This allows the use of high-performance sails and the addition of a bowsprit. Solo sailors will sail with a square-top mainsail, a genoa and a jib, but also a masthead spinnaker (to gain speed in a light breeze) and a small gennaker.

Laurent Michel Givry strolled into Bert Jabin Yacht Yard in Annapolis, saw a Beneteau First 36.7 sailboat almost identical to the one he sailed with his father in France and bought it on the spot. The impulsive yet well-timed move introduced him to Rodney Jabin, president of Bert Jabin Yacht Yard, and also changed his life.  The meeting  touched off a series of events that would spur Givry to start racing in Annapolis, to purchase a faster sailboat, a Farr 400 from Jabin, and then purchase  the ultimate fast ride—a Figaro Beneteau 3, the first production one design monohull foiling vessel and one of a handful of its kind in the United States.

Givry purchased the 32-foot Figaro 3, named Boat of the Year 2019 by Sailing World, from Annapolis Yacht Sales. The Figaro 3 is unusual for its bright orange inward-facing foils that protruding like spider legs. Unlike the high-tech foiling boats seen in the America’s Cup, the Figaro 3 is not designed to rise out of the water. The retractable foils instead create an additional sideways force to reduce leeway significantly and improves the Figaro’s ability to point upwind and to plane. This system replaces the ballast tanks used in the Figaro 2, and makes the Figaro 3 much faster and lighter than her predecessor.

Laurent Givry on his Figaro 3, La Défonce

Figaro 3 breaks brand new ground in other ways. With a price tag of approximately $220,000, it is relatively affordable should you want to break into class racing or simply sail on an exceptional high-performing boat. Its technology births a new generation of one-design monohull foiling vessels suitable for offshore racing. Because its technology has not been used consistently before, it levels the playing field for experts and amateurs alike, in many respects. “Rank and file sailors now have access to a foil-assist platform once exclusive to elite off-shore racing sailors and bigger boats,” says Sailing World.

Though it is hard to believe, Laurent calls himself an amateur sailor. Born in Toulouse, France he has crewed and captained on numerous large racing boats, recently winning the Annapolis Newport Race. He was ready for something new, where he could be closer to high-speed action. “Here, you have to be everything at one time,” gestures Givry while sitting in his Figaro, named aptly La Défonce, which translates roughly to “full blast”. “You must be bowman, trim the sails, work the cockpit, everything. Yes, this is exactly what I want,” he says, gesturing to the many multi-colored lines feeding into the cockpit so he can singlehand the vessel. Givry, a former trapeze artist who founded the Circus Arts Workshop in McLean, Virginia, is used to aerial dynamics.  He no longer teaches trapeze but today operates Elite Wines, which he founded in 2002 in Washington, D.C. That’s ok, Givry no longer needs his trapeze, because on La Défonce, he can fly easily across the Bay.

Special Thanks to Rod Jabin | Bert Jabin Yacht Yard, bjyy.com | Annapolis Yacht Sales, annapolisyachtsales.com

Annapolis Home Magazine 2019