Going where no female has gone before

Alexia Barrier (FRA) and her co-skipper Dee Caffari (GBR) want to do what’s never been done: break the Jules Verne Trophy with an all-female crew. The French yachtswoman has revealed her crew pre-selection, confirmed her boats for the three year campaign and record attempt, and unveiled two founding partners to the campaign: CIC and IDEC.

No woman has so far been part of any crew to conquer the legendary Jules Verne Trophy, the prestigious prize for the fastest time around the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew, starting and finishing from the exact line between the Le Créac’h Lighthouse off the tip of Brittany and the Lizard Point in Cornwall.

The trophy is not easy to claim, as there is a narrow window for which to start, and then only if the forecast provides a promising descent of the North Atlantic. Annual attempts are typical, but the current record has stood since 2017 when Francis Joyon set the pace of 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds.

Aiming to make history and disrupt this all-male legacy, Barrier has created ‘The Famous Project’, bringing together the best female professional sailors from around the world. With a plan to be ready by October 2025, The Famous Project will be using the boat that holds the current record – the 100-foot Ultime trimaran IDEC Sport.

“We want to shine a light on those who dare and to inspire others to realize their dreams and ambitions,” said Barrier. “Over the next three years, the Famous Project will highlight inspiring projects, both large and small. Ultimately we not only want to be the first ever all-female team to complete the Jules Verne Trophy route, we want to break the record at the same time.”

A celebrated offshore skipper for over 20 years, Barrier has sailed the equivalent of 10 laps around the planet, completing the iconic solo, non-stop Vendée Globe in 2021 and has raced across the Atlantic no less than 18 times. Caffari is a record-breaking round the world sailor with six circumnavigations under her belt and is the only woman to have sailed around the world solo, in both directions.

Both sailors have put together a crew line-up with 12 circumnavigations of the planet, 54 transatlantic races, three transpacific races, 28 world records, and 16 championship titles.

​​”This project will break down barriers,” explained Caffari. “It will be the pinnacle of my career, a special record that few people have achieved or even attempted before. It’s a great sporting challenge, but the project in itself is so much bigger. This is about creating an impact for women all around the world.”

Following an intensive pre-selection process in the mountains and on the water in the first half of 2023, the current crew have been handpicked to ensure a complementary mix of experiences. Selection and training will continue throughout 2023 and 2024, with new talent from Olympic dinghy racers to seasoned offshore skippers introduced to the team.

The current crew are:
• Helena Darvelid (SWE), 12 world speed sailing records
• Sara Hastreiter (USA), round the world sailor and mountain adventurer
• Elodie Jane Mettraux (SUI), leading multihull specialist
• Joan Mulloy (IRL), offshore solo specialist
• Marie Riou (FRA), The Ocean Race winner
• Marie Tabarly (FRA), skipper of Pen Duick VI

The all-female crew will be supported by a squad of multihull specialists led by Jonny Malbon (GBR) as Team Director, and an expert team of coaches including Brian Thompson (GBR), Sidney Gavignet (FRA), and Alex Pella (ESP).

The Famous Project will be running a two-boat campaign. The former Spindrift MOD70 – renamed Limosa – will be the training and selection platform. The team has also been supported by IDEC and has been given use of the Ultime IDEC Sport (formerly Groupama 3, Banque Populaire VII). The 100-foot trimaran is the current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy Record and three-time winner of the Route du Rhum.

To create a lasting impact, Barrier and her crew will develop education and scientific programs around ocean health.

“The Famous Project is more than attempting to set the Trophy Jules Verne record,” commented Barrier. “Over the coming months we will unveil the scientific program we will be undertaking with our partner, UNESCO, as well as a global educational program, which will bring to life the importance of ocean health for school children. The Famous Project will leave an impact for many years to come.”

Details: https://www.thefamousproject.fr/

Editor’s note: Kai Yves reminded us of the following: “It’s only true on a technicality that ‘no woman has so far been part of any crew to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy’ as Adrienne Callahan was Steve Fossett’s navigator on Cheyenne when they set the circumnavigation record, but they were not awarded the trophy because Fossett didn’t pay the registration fee.”

The rules for the Jules Verne Trophy are simple – it is for the fastest time around the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew, starting and finishing from the exact line between the Le Créac’h Lighthouse off the tip of Brittany and the Lizard Point in Cornwall. It was first won in 1993, with all nine winners as either catamarans or trimarans. The current challenge is to beat the record time of 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds set by Francis Joyon and crew on the 31.5m IDEC Sport in 2017.

Record Facts
• Start and finish: a line between Créac’h lighthouse (Isle of Ushant) and Lizard Point (England)
• Course: non-stop around-the-world tour racing without outside assistance via the three Capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn)
• Minimum distance: 21,600 nautical miles (40,000 kilometres)
• Ratification: World Sailing Speed Record Council, www.sailspeedrecords.com
• Time to beat: 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds
• Average speed: 21.96 knots
• Date of current record: January 2017
• Holder: IDEC SPORT, Francis Joyon and a 5-man crew

Split Time References – Full Crew:
Ushant-Equator: 4d 20h 07 ‘(Spindrift 2 in 2019)
Equator-Cape Aiguilles: 6d 08h 55 ‘(Banque Populaire V in 2012)
Cape Aiguilles-Cape Leeuwin: 4d 09h 32 ‘(IDEC Sport in 2017)
Cape Leuuwin-Cape Horn: 9d 08h 46 ‘(IDEC Sport in 2017)
Cape Horn-Equator: 7d 04h 27 ‘(Banque Populaire V in 2012)
Equator-Ushant: 5d 19h 21 ‘(IDEC Sport in 2017)

Here are the nine that have held the trophy:
2017 – Francis Joyon / IDEC SPORT (31.5m) – 40:23:30:30
2012 – Loïck Peyron / Banque Populaire V (40m) – 45:13:42:53
2010 – Franck Cammas / Groupama 3 (31.5m) – 48:07:44:52
2005 – Bruno Peyron / Orange II (36.8m) – 50:16:20:04
2004 – Olivier De Kersauson / Geronimo (33.8m) – 63:13:59:46
2002 – Bruno Peyron / Orange (32.8m) – 64:08:37:24
1997 – Olivier De Kersauson / Sport-Elec (27.3m) – 71:14:22:08
1994 – Peter Blake, Robin Knox-Johnston / Enza New Zealand (28m) – 74:22:17:22
1993 – Bruno Peyron / Commodore Explorer (28m) – 79:06:15:56