IDEC SPORT Prepares to Shatter Record

(January 25, 2017; Day 40; 23:30 FR) – Francis Joyon (FRA) and his five crew on the 31.5m VPLP-designed trimaran IDEC SPORT are are about to complete their victorious round the world voyage to win the Jules Verne Trophy for fastest outright time around the world.

Currently averaging 30+ knots off Cape Finisterre, the team is expected to finish early tomorrow, with their latest 24 hour run of 681.11 nm increasing their lead to 2304.1 nm (+657.77 nm) ahead of the current time set in January 2012 by Loïck Peyron and his crew on the 40 VPLP-designed trimaran Banque Populaire V of 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds.

“This Jules Verne Trophy is a straight line and we sailed it at the same pace as the fronts in the Southern Ocean, just as we are now doing in the North Atlantic,” declared Clément Surtel. “According to the latest simulations, we should also grab the intermediate record between the Equator and Ushant, which will be the icing ion the cake. This is an exceptional trajectory. The sun has come up and we can push that bit harder.”

Paying close attention to the shipping and hundredsds of cargo vessels and fishing boats in this area, the six sailors are taking the IDEC SPORT team to the rank of ninth holder of the Jules Verne Trophy after the crews led by Bruno Peyron, Peter Blake, Olivier de Kersauson, Franck Cammas and Loïck Peyron.

“I have seen boats leaving for the Jules Verne Trophy that I prepared,” added Surtel. “Managing to grab this record is the high point of my sailing career and a dream come true. Crossing the finish in record time is bound to be a huge moment.”

Status as of 23:30 FR
Distance to Finish: 258.2 nm
24 Hour Distance: 760 nm
24 Hour Speed Average: 31.7 knots
Ahead/Behind: +2304.1 nm

IDEC SPORT RACING – Tracker – Facebook

Note: The 24 hour speed record of 908.2 nm (37.84 knot average) was set in 2009 by Banque Populaire 5, a 131-foot trimaran skippered by Pascal Bidegorry (FRA).

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.

After starting on November 16, Francis Joyon (FRA) and his five crew on the 31.5m VPLP-designed trimaran IDEC SPORT need to finish by 22:00:53 UTC on Monday January 30 to beat the current record set January 2012 by Loïck Peyron and his crew on the 40 VPLP-designed trimaran Banque Populaire V of 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds.

Francis Joyon (fourth from left) and his crew comprising Clément Surtel, Alex Pella, Bernard Stamm, Gwénolé Gahinet and Sébastien Audigane.

Jules Verne Trophy
Record to beat: 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds set by Loïck Peyron and his crew of 13 in January 2012 on the trimaran Banque Populaire V (40 m)
Average speed to beat: 19.75 knots
Course: around the world via the three capes, Good Hope, Leeuwin, Horn.
Great circle distance: 21,600 miles
Start and finish line between Ushant (Créac’h Lighthouse and The Lizard (Cornwall).

IDEC SPORT trimaran
Trimaran with foils
Designers: VPLP
Previous names: Groupama 3, Banque Populaire VII
Initial launch: June 2006
Length: 31.50 m
Beam: 22.50 m
Displacement: 15 t
Draught: 5.70 m
Mast height: 33.50 m
Structure: carbon-nomex

Source: IDEC SPORT