Money is Still on the Table

Two maxi-trimarans started November 22 in an attempt to claim the Jules Verne Trophy, a prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world.

The 40m maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2, led by Yann Guichard and Dona Bertarelli, and Francis Joyon’s 31.5m maxi-trimaran IDEC SPORT were in an unexpected duel against each other as they sought to beat the clock.

The current holder of the trophy was Loïck Peyron and his crew on Banque Populaire V (now Spindrift 2), which in January 2012 had set a time of 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds.

The early forecast launched the two maxis on record pace, but a succession of highs and lows soon followed. While they both arrived at Cape Horn within reach of the prize, the teams acknowledged on Day 43 that their efforts would be for naught.

Both teams expect to arrive at the designated start-finish line, located between the Le Créac’h Lighthouse off the tip of Brittany and the Lizard Point in Cornwall, on January 8… the 48th day.

Who will get there first? On the penultimate day, Spindrift 2 held a slight edge, but with 90+ nm lateral separation and 500 nm to go (as of 19:00 UTC), the money is still on the table.

IDEC SPORT – Spindrift 2 – Tracker

Background: The Jules Verne Trophy is 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.