Bostik provides vital repair solutions in international yacht race

Bostik adhesives, including solutions from its Born2Bond Engineering Adhesives range, comprise an integral part of a vital Repair Kit – or ‘Kit à partir’ – that was offered by Arkema, Lalou Multi and Bostik to all 79 teams in the Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) multi-day yacht race.

The TJV is a world-renowned event that starts near Le Havre (France) and finishes in Martinique in the West Indies. The race is nearly 30 years’ old, having first run in 1993 and every two years since, though the concept of the route is far older – the race course traces the historic coffee trading routes between France and Brazil used by clipper ships in the 19th century.

After starting in Le Havre on Sunday, 7 November, this year the finish shifted from South America to Martinique in the Caribbean, with a mid-Atlantic turning mark of Trindade, off Rio de Janeiro, added for the fastest Ultime trimarans, bringing their race distance up to 7,500 miles.

Rigours of a global sea challenge

With so far to travel and so much that can go amiss, the Bostik adhesives were chosen for their fast-curing, high-strength, and optimum moisture, humidity and chemical resistance qualities, crucial for the rigours of a global sea challenge.

“The Repair Kit is used in the event of any equipment failure, delivering a more sustainable maintenance approach than replacing entire parts,” says Bostik. “The kit provides the required range of fast, instant and primer-free structural adhesives, sealants and lubricants, with anti-corrosive and hydrophobic qualities suitable for underwater and minute-size applications.”

Arkema, a major specialty materials company and Bostik’s parent company, is the headline sponsor of the Arkema 4 Ocean Fifty trimaran, one of the yachts competing in the TJV race. It also had an exhibition stand in the event village, focusing on ‘Energy, Sport and Preservation of Resources’.

Bostik used this international platform to launch its Born2Bond maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) range to showcase how its high-performance and sustainable anaerobic and instant adhesives can be utilised in even the toughest environments.

Indeed, on the stand and during the race, the Bostik team demonstrated how Lalou Roucayrol (Arkema 4 co-skipper and ship owner) and his team use the engineering adhesives to maintain and repair the yacht – as well as in the construction of the yacht itself. The effectiveness has been demonstrated using supplied substrates: eg, rubber, plastic, composites, wood, glass, metal and metal fasteners.

SAF glue used to fix torn-off keel padeye

Having used the Repair Kit in previous years, Arkema 4 skippers Quentin Vlamynck and Lalou Roucayrol, competing in the 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre, can attest to the usefulness of Arkema and Bostik products during a race: "In the 2017 Mini Transat, thanks to SAF glue, I was able to reattach the keel padeye that had torn off and gone through the deck, thus guaranteeing the water tightness," says Vlamynck, skipper of Arkema 4.

Adds Roucayrol: "On the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre, the front of the central hull cracked following an impact. A significant water leak in the boat forced me to pump out more than a hundred litres without managing to dry it out completely. I was able to make a makeshift repair by gluing a flexible plate on the hull with Bostik SAF methacrylate glues. This experience shows the feasibility of a repair at sea.”

Polivio Goncalves, head of Engineering Adhesives at Bostik, says the entire Bostik and Arkema family are immensely proud to have supported such a prestigious event: “What the Arkema Sailing team has achieved is outstanding and testament to their experience, determination and abilities. It has also been a fantastic opportunity to showcase our Engineering Adhesives’ capabilities and wide-ranging MRO applications, which have been very well-received.

Born2Bond solutions maintain strength underwater

“Bostik Born2Bond solutions within our Repair Kit maintain strength underwater and the low-odour solutions, including our White Label Anaerobic Adhesives, are also incredibly safe to use, with no hazardous or toxic ingredients.

“Also a significant advantage, using Bostik’s ultra-high-performance methacrylate adhesives, as opposed to mechanical fastenings, the team has been able to save more than 10 kgs in weight.”

The Repair Kit includes Bostik MMA SAF 30-5, Bostik MMA SAF 30-15, Bostik Born2Bond Repair, Bostik Born2Bond Ultra Gel, Bostik Born2Bond 6-in-1 Lubricant, Bostik MS9 Superbond, Bostik MSR Construction Adhesives and Elium Composite Patches.

In addition to the yacht itself, Bostik Born2Bond High-Performance HMPUR adhesives and UV-CIPG gasketing solutions are used for manufacturing and assembly of onboard marine instrumentation, such as onboard navigation and electronics.