IBSA
Latest-generation Class40, “scow” bow, five months of production: the IBSA craft with which Alberto Bona will participate in the Route du Rhum in November was launched yesterday in La Trinité-Sur-Mer (Brittany, France). It’s the first project of the three-year program Sailing into the Future. Together that the ocean sailor started in early 2022, together with the Swiss pharmaceutical company.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220802005581/en/
Designed by Sam Manuard , one of the great French naval architects when it comes to ocean classes, the IBSA Class40 was built by the JPS Production shipyard. It’s a Mach 5 model, the latest evolution of Manuard’s Class40, and will be present at the start of the Route du Rhum as one of the most innovative and modern boats. Much attention will surely be drawn to the rounded bow, created with the aim of increasing performance when sailing downwind, but also the hull promises high performance, thanks to the shape of the water lines and appendages, designed to make it a fast all-rounder when reaching too. Distinctive is also the design of the cockpit, large and well protected: a choice that will allow the sailor to face navigation in the most comfortable and safe positions possible. “This boat perfectly reflects our approach to the program ”, summarised Alberto Bona . “It’s the result of the search for detail, of the improvement in every single aspect: we were looking for a fast hull, clearly at the limits of the box rule, reliable in all weather conditions and sufficiently innovative to make a difference ”.
The project Sailing into the Future. Together started from scratch last January with a partnership – that between IBSA and Alberto Bona – born on common grounds and values, with the aim of using sailing as a corporate communication vehicle towards the market and the nautical world. “Ingenuity, courage, innovation, responsibility are elements which unite us - explained Bona - for this reason we are facing together this challenge, which is clearly sporting but which also metaphorically represents the Company's history, philosophy and vision always turned towards the future, and is part of a path bringing IBSA ever closer to environmental and social sustainability, inclusion and integration. In this type of challenge, the solitary navigator stands out but, as in the industry, the commander exists as a function of his team. With IBSA, we first of all built a team ”.
As for the team , we start with Sidney Gavignet as a coach: the very experienced French navigator laid the foundations and objectives, with a strict rule: always be prepared, to foresee all aspects of the challenge, on land and at sea. “Sidney put us in a position to divide this great challenge into many small steps. A long roadmap of stages to be reached, training and testing in preparation for the start, since building a challenge like the Route du Rhum from scratch in seven months is extremely demanding ”. For the physical preparation part, Bona relied on Andrea Madaffari : he has been working with him for months on endurance and strength, as well as on the management of the energy peaks necessary during a regatta. “When sailing, one needs stamina and does a lot of pulling and hauling: you pull sheets and halyards, you need endurance and peak strength ”, explained Bona . “We are working on this, as well as on the aerobic part ”.
“The choice of Sam Manuard as a designer was virtually natural ,” recalled Bona , and is based on a solid relationship dating back to the time of the Mini class, on the sharing of a design vision and on the innovations that Bona was looking for his IBSA Class40. On the sails front, Bona chose Remi Aubrum , whom he entrusted with the choice of innovative materials, compatible with the rigorous box rule of the Class40. The last operational entry is that of the Boat Captain, the Breton expert Pierre-Edouard Regaud .
“In recent months we have all been working with the same philosophy, that of the goals to be achieved day by day. We are working on fatigue management, on finding the best solutions in all aspects of the project. It was a huge team effort, between us and IBSA , that led us to yesterday’s technical launch ”, said Bona .
In the afternoon, at 5 pm, the IBSA Class40 made on board a truck the short journey between the shipyard and the marina that will host it, which is located in front of “Casa IBSA”, the operational headquarters . Alberto Bona now has one month to set up the boat and to qualify, by sailing a thousand miles by the end of August. On September 9, the actual launch – the ceremony that will officially make the Class40 enter the IBSA world – will take place in La Trinité-sur-Mer . In mid-September, Bona will participate in the Malouine Lamotte regatta; then, he will transfer his operational base to Saint-Malo, from where the first regatta of the three-year program will start.
“We will talk to sailing enthusiasts and to the entire IBSA world, ” explained Bona , who also underlines the existence of a comprehensive sustainability project, in common with IBSA : “Navigators are experts in circular economy; they live for long periods on the ocean, they replace fossil fuels with solar and wind energy, they recycle everything they can, they live in true harmony with the sea, that they help protect: this is a very important message that, together with IBSA, we wish to promote and share, using the solo oceanic challenge as a great metaphor of what can and must be done for the environment ”.
In its program associated with sailing, IBSA is also committed to inclusiveness: in fact, the inclusive sailing project involving the Associazione Velabili based at the Circolo Velico Lago di Lugano (Switzerland), the Société des Régates d’Antibes (France) and the Yacht Club Punta Ala (Italy) has also been activated. The project aims to support inclusive sailing by promoting initiatives involving people with disabilities in experiences in contact with the sea and the sailing world, and consists in supporting a team of disabled sailors in participating in the Special Olympics World Games of 2023 and in the purchase of Hansa 303 boats for the Clubs of Punta Ala and Antibes.
IBSA
IBSA (Institut Biochimique SA ) is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical Company, founded in 1945 in Lugano. Today, its products are present in over 90 Countries on 5 continents, through the Company’s 17 subsidiaries located in Europe, China, and the United States. The company has a consolidated turnover of 800 million CHF, and employs over 2,000 people between headquarters, subsidiaries and production sites. IBSA holds 90 families of approved patents, plus others under development, as well as a vast portfolio of products, covering 10 therapeutic areas: reproductive medicine, endocrinology, pain and inflammation, osteoarticular, aesthetic medicine, dermatology, uro-gynaecology, cardiometabolic, respiratory, consumer health. It is also one of the largest operators worldwide in the area of reproductive medicine, and one of the world’s leaders in hyaluronic acid-based products. IBSA has based its philosophy on four pillars: Person, Innovation, Quality and Responsibility.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220802005581/en/
Link:
Social Media:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
UAE’s Medcare Treats First International SMA Patient With Revolutionary Intrathecal Gene Therapy30.12.2025 15:15:00 CET | Press release
The newly licensed intrathecal gene therapy expands life-changing treatment options for children and adults affected by SMA Medcare Women & Children Hospital has successfully administered a pioneering intrathecal gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to Hulus, a three-year-old patient from Turkey. This milestone positions Medcare among the first private healthcare providers worldwide to offer this innovative treatment to an older international patient, overcoming previous age and weight limitations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251230695275/en/ World's first international patient, who received intrathecal gene therapy at Medcare Royal Hospital in Dubai, UAE, along with parents, and the hospital team. (Photo: AETOSWire) SMA is a rare neuromuscular disorder that progressively weakens muscles responsible for movement and breathing. This newly licensed one-time therapy addresses the root genetic cause
Amazfit Introduces Active Max: Bigger, Brighter, and Built for Maximum Performance30.12.2025 09:00:00 CET | Press release
The newest member of the Active family blends new design, expanded storage, and longer battery to help users train smarter and reach their goals with confidence. Amazfit, a leading global smart wearable brand by Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP), today announces the Amazfit Active Max, the newest member of the Amazfit Active family. Built for everyday athletes and anyone looking to elevate their wellness routine, Active Max blends a 1.5″ ultra-bright AMOLED display, up to 25 days of battery life, easy podcast listening and advanced training tools to support consistent training and clearer visibility across any activity. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251230279762/en/ Bigger Display. Max Clarity: A 1.5″ ultra-bright AMOLED display delivers exceptional clarity in any setting—whether in the gym, outdoors, or on the move. With up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, the screen ensures real-time stats are always easy to read.
2026 Future of Fitness Report: Experts from Coherent Solutions Turn Years of Fitness Industry Software Engineering Work Into a Guidebook on Future-proof Digital Transformation in Fitness29.12.2025 18:48:00 CET | Press release
Coherent Solutions has released its 2026 Future of Fitness report, capturing years of domain knowledge from helping emerging and global fitness brands drive digital transformation, innovate, and improve member engagement. “The Future of Fitness: Winning with Digital Value Creation” takes lessons from real projects and fitness enthusiasts, turning them into a guidebook for the next era of fitness. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251229965712/en/ New Fitness Tech Whitepaper by Coherent Solutions While the global fitness market is on track to surpass $257 billion, and brands are expanding globally, pioneering new regions, and implementing new technologies, the report highlights the most effective growth trajectory in acknowledging the importance of technology as equal to supporting the fitness community. "Most people only spend 3–5 hours a week in a gym. That leaves 160+ hours where their choices and habits are i
Hanshow and the University of Cambridge Launch Joint Research on Augmented Intelligent Hybrid Wireless Technology25.12.2025 12:34:00 CET | Press release
Hanshow, a global leader in electronic shelf labels (ESL) and digital store solutions, has entered into a multi-year research collaboration with the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions. The partnership will focus on joint research and innovation in next-generation intelligent hybrid wireless technologies, marking an important milestone in Hanshow’s continued investment in core technologies and long-term innovation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251225988816/en/ This collaboration leverages the University of Cambridge’s deep expertise in fundamental wireless technology research, alongside Hanshow’s extensive industry experience, to further strengthen multi-protocol integration capabilities and expand scalable applications across diverse retail scenarios. Guided by shared principles of innovation, collaboration, openness, and knowledge sharing, the two parties aim
Social Development Bank Highlights Strategic Partnerships and Global Initiatives at DeveGo 202524.12.2025 17:27:00 CET | Press release
The forum held in Riyadh witnessed the signing of 51 agreements aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem The Social Development Bank (SDB) hosted the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum, “DeveGo 2025”, from 21 to 23 December in Riyadh. Held under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of SDB’s Board of Directors, the forum brings together government leaders, global experts, investors, and entrepreneurs to shape the future of entrepreneurship and modern business practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251224036724/en/ From right to left: Ahmed Al Rajhi, Saudi's Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, H.E. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, and Sultan Al Hamidi, CEO of Social Development (Photo: AETOSWire) Opening th
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
