D’IETEREN GROUP

BEL 207

Baptismal name	Spirit Of Hungary
Architect	Nándor Fa & Attila Déry - Hungary
Construction	2013, Pauger Carbon Ltd, Hongrie
Launch date	4/7/14
Former names	Spirit Of Hungary, Laboratoire de Biarritz

Skipper	Denis VAN WEYNBERGH

Skipper

Denis
VAN WEYNBERGH

Presentation

Hungarian Nándor Fa, former Finn champion, commands respect in the domain of offshore racing. Since his first Vendée Globe in 1992 which saw him finish 5th, he has been the naval architect, builder and skipper of his boats, including this one.

A self-taught naval architecture enthusiast, Nándor didn't hesitate to travel from Budapest to Les Sables d'Olonne in 1989 for the start of the first Vendée Globe Challenge. This discreet man photographed the thirteen competitors from every angle... After two participations, including one withdrawal in 1996, Nándor designed Spirit of Hungary with Attilia Déry. His IMOCA Open 60 was built in Hungary, and launched on April 1, 2014 in Trieste, Italy. Nándor Fa, competed in the Barcelona Race in 2014-15, finishing 7th with Conrad Colman, then the Vendée Globe in 2016-17, where after 93 days, he took 8th place. But at the age of 65, the former wrestler and member of the Hungarian Olympic sailing team, decided to stop his ocean racing career, handing over his boat to Denis Van Weynbergh. With his sights set on competing in the 2020-21 Vendée Globe, the Belgian sailor became the owner of Eyesea in June 2018, and went on to take part in several major races, including the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race as well as the Bermuda 1000 Race. Although qualified and entered for the Vendée Globe, he had to put an end to his project for lack of sufficient funding. But the former Mini Transat racer is not one to give up. Thanks to the arrival of a sponsor, Laboratoires de Biarritz, Denis Van Weynbergh undergoes a "refit" on the Fa plan, and competes in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 with Tanguy Le Turquais (19th), then this time solo in the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race in 2022. Finishing 21st and last, he qualified for the Route du Rhum. In 2022, he signed a partnership agreement with the Belgian D'Ieteren Group, which will take him all the way to the Vendée Globe. In 2023, he took part in double-handed races to train as much as possible for his solo round-the-world race in October 2024. After 117 days at sea, he arrived the day after the finish line officially closed.

Length	18,28m
Beam	5,65m
Draught	4,50m
Weight	NC
Mast height	29m
Mast type	Boom mast
Foils	No
Sail area max.
Upwind	NC
Downwind	NC

Sailing Highlights

2024-2025 : Vendée Globe - Hors course
2024 : New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne - 27th
2024 : The Transat CIC - 24th
2023 : Retour à La Base - 30th
2023 : Transat Café L'Or - 32th
2023 : Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 27th
2023 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 27th
2022 : Vendée Arctique - ABD
2022 : 1000 Race - 21th
2021 : Transat Café L'Or - 19th
2019 : Rolex Fastnet Race - 18th

2019 : 1000 Race - 17th
2016-2017 : Vendée Globe - 8th
2015 : Transat Café L'Or - Abandon le 31/10
2014-2015 : Barcelona World Race - 7th
2014 : New York - Barcelone - DNS

News

3.8.25

Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh is back in Les Sables d’Olonne

Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh completes solo non stop round the world passage but finishes outside the 2024 Vendée Globe ranking.

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News

2.27.25

Denis' mainsail troubles continue

While it seems likely that Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce, 31st) should cross the finish line tomorrow (Friday) and then Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans Wewise, 32nd) should finish after the weekend a dark cloud of uncertainty is …

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Video

1.23.25

Denis Van Weynbergh, moved while passing Cape Horn

The Belgian Denis Van Weynbergh has just rounded Cape Horn during his first Vendée Globe. He is very moved to have made it this far. Now, it’s time for the climb up the Atlantic towards the finish.

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