Spindrift 2: Let the record chase begin

Spindrift 2, the world’s largest racing trimaran at 131-feet, and its 14-strong crew, led by Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard, foresee a weather window that will launch their attempt to beat the Discovery Route record set between Cadiz (Spain) and San Salvador (Bahamas). Spindrift 2 expects to cross the virtual start line on Wednesday or Thursday.

Spindrift 2 has been on standby in Portimao, southern Portugal, since 7 October, waiting to attack the record set by the maxi trimaran Groupama in 2007. The delay was partly because of the significant collapse of the Azores high-pressure system and the continuous chain of active low-pressure systems hitting the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The high pressure is finally gathering strength and generating sustained North-Easterly winds ideal for the first stage of the crossing towards the Canary Islands.

“This means the trade winds are picking up again,” explains Richard Silvani from Météo France, weather analysis and routing partner to Spindrift 2 on her first great transatlantic challenge. “The Azores high pressure system is moving into the ideal position for Spindrift 2,” he says.

“As we do not have a big margin to beat this record with, each minute and hour we can gain counts; that is why the strategists’ ability lies in finding the most favourable time at which to leave during this opening,” Bertarelli says.

Crew of the maxi Spindrift 2 for The Discovery Route:
Dona Bertarelli
Yann Guichard
Xavier Revil
Jean Baptiste le Vaillant
Antoine Carraz
Thierry Douillard
Christophe Espagnon
Sébastien Marsset
Nicolas Texier
Erwan Tabarly
François Morvan
Thomas ROuxel
Simone Gaeta
Erwan Israel

Weather routing: Richard Silvani
Spindrift website: http://www.spindrift-racing.com

Time to beat: 7 days, 10 hours, 58 minutes, 53 seconds
Current record: Groupama 3 (Franck Cammas) in 2007
Distance: 3884 miles (WSSRC)