Transat 6.5: Grado Zero Espace and the Swedish sailor Pia L'Obry face an extreme challenge together
Grado Zero Espace has found an ideal solution to enable the Swedish sailor, Pia L'Obry, to deal with the extreme weather conditions and numerous difficulties that she will encounter during the popular transatlantic solo regatta, the Transat 6.5.
The regatta, a symbol of true sportsmanship for lovers of sailing, was first launched in 1977 by Bob Salmon. Ocean races at that time were becoming more and more expensive; and boats were growing bigger and more complex, requiring sophisticated equipment and capital investment. In light of this, he decided to launch a competition that would focus on the sailor's abilities, man or woman, rather than the equipment's: only boats of 6,5 metres in length were allowed, with only one person to sail the boat, without GPS navigation, and without energy other than that provided by two solar panels. Since then, Transat 6.5 has been held every two years and attracts enthusiasts from all over the world.
Grado Zero Espace inside the Technology Transfer Programme of European Space Agency has created a special external garment for Pia L'Obry, using a special shape memory membrane, ables to shield from the sea water. This membrane allows optimal breathability in any given atmospheric condition whilst maintaining the body perfectly dry.
