Joyon Ready for Another Jules Verne Trophy Attempt

(December 14, 2016) – The IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran has just gone to code green, meaning that their departure is imminent. Led by skipper Francis Joyon (FRA), the team is about to make another attempt at the outright crewed round the world record, the Jules Verne Trophy.

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.

Joyon is skippering the 31.5m VPLP-designed trimaran IDEC SPORT 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.

Departure is expected to be in the night from Thursday to Friday, December 15 to 16, with Joyon finding that this weather window is “good and conducive to achieve a first good chrono to Ecuador.”

This attempt follows two recent failures by Joyon.

In 2015, Joyon completed an attempt on January 8, after 47 days 14 hours and 47 minutes at sea. This was the third best time in the history of the Jules Verne Trophy. Also finishing that day was Spindrift 2, the 40m maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2, led by Yann Guichard and Dona Bertarelli, which crossed the line after 47 days 10 hours 59 minutes and 02 seconds at sea. This was the second best time in the history of the Jules Verne Trophy.

More recently, Joyon called off an attempt last month after seven days when conditions continued to deteriorate while in the doldrums.

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

IDEC SPORT RACING – Tracker – Facebook

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.

Francis Joyon (FRA) is skippering the 31.5m VPLP-designed trimaran IDEC SPORT 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.

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