Spindrift 2: On the Depression Front

(December 1, 2015; Day 10) – The 40m maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2 crew have changed their sunglasses and shorts for polar fleeces and oilskins. Here we are at the front of the much sought-after low, heading south-east. Spindrift 2 has now been cruising at 31 knots for the last 24 hours, and hopes to maintain that pace until at least Thursday.

The forecast for Wednesday should allow a change of route towards the south while maintaining the same pace. The Roaring Forties are drawing near, and there’s no time to lose in reaching the Southern Ocean, where strong winds, huge waves and plummeting temperatures are the order of the day.

Helmsman-trimmer Xavier Revil, who is also in charge of life on board, has begun a full clean-up with some of the crew in preparation for the extreme conditions that lie ahead. Everyone is pitching in to ensure everything is ready before going surfing down the world’s most legendary waves.

As of 2200 UTC
Distance to finish: 18075.6 nm
Distance for 24 hours: 776.6 nm
Distance ahead of record: 11.57 nm

Source: Spindrift 2

Team website – Tracker – Facebook

Background: Spindrift 2 is seeking to claim the Jules Verne Trophy, a prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew, starting and finishing between the Le Créac’h Lighthouse off the tip of Brittany and the Lizard Point in Cornwall.

Yann Guichard (FRA), skippering the 40 VPLP-designed trimaran, crossed the start line on November 22 at 04:01:58 GMT, and his 14-man team must return by 17:43:51 UTC on January 6, 2016 to beat the current record set January 2012 by Loïck Peyron and his crew on Banque Populaire 5 of 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds.

Spindrift 2 was originally launched in 2008 as Banque Populaire 5.

MORE: Also starting on November 22 (at 02:02:22 GMT) for an attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy was Francis Joyon (FRA), skippering the 31.5m VPLP-designed trimaran IDEC SPORT. The 6-person team must return by 15:44:15 GMT on January 6, 2016 to beat the record. Here’s a tracker showing both teams: http://volodiaja.net/Tracking/

SPINDRIFT 2 CREW:
Yann Guichard, skipper
Dona Bertarelli, helmsman-trimmer
Sébastien Audigane, helmsman-trimmer
Antoine Carraz, helmsman-trimmer
Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, helmsman-trimmer
Christophe Espagnon, helmsman-bowman
Jacques Guichard, helmsman-trimmer
Erwan Israël, navigator
Loïc Le Mignon, helmsman-trimmer
Sébastien Marsset, bowman
François Morvan, helmsman-trimmer
Xavier Revil, helmsman-trimmer
Yann Riou, media reporter
Thomas Rouxel, helmsman-bowman
Jean-Yves Bernot, onshore router