Foiling from Los Angeles to Honolulu

(June 22, 2015) – Alain Thébault (FRA) and Jacques Vincent (FRA), along with four American crew members, set sail today on the 60-foot foiling trimaran L’Hydroptère in an attempt to beat the transpacific speed record from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii.

The start time for L’Hydroptère was 21:27:02 UTC (14:27:02 PDT) from the official point at the Point Fermin Lighted Whistle Buoy 6PF.

The outright record for the 2215nm distance is 04:19:31:37, set by skipper Olivier de Kersauson (FRA) and crew on the 110-foot trimaran Geronimo in November 2005.

From a weather point of view, the first day will probably be difficult, and there will be downwind conditions on the southern edge of the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” debris plate of a size equivalent to the size of Texas. The crew should then find rough seas for the arrival in the Molokai channel.

Team website – Tracking

Note: This record is separate from the 2,225nm Transpac Race record which is 5d 9h 18m 26s, set during the 1997 event by the 86′ maxi cat Explorer.