IDEC SPORT claims second in The Bridge

New York, NY (July 4, 2017) – After MACIF (François Gabart) became the big winner yesterday of this first edition of THE BRIDGE by crossing the famous Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at 1.31pm local time, later in the night IDEC SPORT took the second place of the Centenary Transat, after a though final with very little wind and a very strong upstream flow.

Francis Joyon and his four crew – Alex Pella, Gwenole Gahinet, Sébastien Picault and Quentin Ponroy – crossed the finish line very early today at 12.09 am (6.09 am in France) the day of Independence Day, the national holiday, and Fireworks.

The five IDEC SPORT sailors finished the East to West race after 8 days 11 hours 9 minutes and 3 seconds of racing. They traveled 3484 miles at a 17.16 knots average between Saint-Nazaire and New York. Sodebo Ultim’ (Thomas Coville) is expected next to finish tomorrow at sunrise.

While the big red trimaran finishes downwind after a crossing completely close-hauled by the Northern route, Thierry Briend’s clear and toned voice, reassured reassuring, after his fall during the night of Sunday, July 2nd while he was at the helm of Sodebo Ultim’. “I’m still lying down,” said Briend. “I still have pain in the neck, but overall, I am good. It’s been a day and a half since I cannot do anything… I’m a bit useless.”

For Actual, navigating starboard tack in a wind of 20 knots and 430 miles from New York, it’s still a little early to give an estimated arrival time. Samantha Davies, the Navigator on board, says this morning that as the weather predictions from European and American are different to the reach of “the city that never sleeps,” a precise ETA is still too random, especially as the wind is likely to remain light until the end.

Details: https://www.thebridge2017.com/en/

Background: The 3,152-mile (5,837 km) Centennial Transat – The Bridge – from Saint-Nazaire to New York started June 25 in France between the Queen Mary 2 (1,132 feet/345m) and four of the largest and fastest trimarans in the world. The ocean liner finished July 1.