Posted in GybeSet - 2012 Articles
From Scuttlebutt Europe Newsletter #2502 - 9 January
Photo by Christophe Launay, www.sealaunay.com.
The fourteen sailors aboard the Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V just entered history of offshore racing by becoming the fastest men around the globe with crew, after 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds of sailing*. Loick Peyron and his crew improved the reference time of the Jules Verne Trophy held by Groupama 3 since March 2010 by 2 days 18 hours 1 minute and 59 seconds.
Departed on November 22nd at 09:31:42 Paris time (08:31:42 GMT), after having crossed the imaginary line between Ushant (Finist貥-France) and Lizard Point (southern tip of England), the Maxi Banque Populaire V crossed the finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy at 23:14:35 Paris time (22:14:35 GMT) this Friday. She undertook this sailing around the world in 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds days at an average speed of 26.51 knots, covering a total distance of 29 002 miles.
Launched in August 2008 in Lorient (Morbihan-France),the giant trimaran holding the colours of Banque Populaire has also established several referenced time on various partials officially listed by the WSSRC for her first world tour:
- Equator / Equator record in 32 days, 11 hours, 51 minutes and 30 seconds
- Indian Ocean crossing record (Cape Agulhas / South of Tasmania) in 8 days 7 hours 22 minutes and 15 seconds
Under the leadership of the skipper Loick Peyron, Thierry Chabagny, Florent Chastel, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, Kevin Escoffier, Emmanuel Le Borgne, Frederic Le Peutrec, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Ronan Lucas, Pierre-Yves Moreau, Yvan Ravussin, Xavier Revil, Brian Thompson, Juan Vila and onshore router Marcel van Triest, are the new holders of the Jules Verne Trophy*.
*Subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Records Council
Groupama skipper Franck Cammas was keen to congratulate the shore crew: "Frustration has often coloured the past three years so I'd like to spare a thought for those who haven't had the opportunity to sail. Hats off to Ronan Lucas, the team manager. Between the build and the sailing, he's the one that has played the biggest part in this project".
Meantime Fred Le Peutrec has broken his own record: "Fred had nothing to lose. Bravo to him. He's involved in all the fine projects. He's a superb helmsman who knows how to go fast, with refinement".
Thierry Martel, CEO of Groupama, adds: "Groupama warmly congratulates Loick Peyron and all the crew of Banque Populaire 5 for this fantastic record which, once again, goes some way to contributing to the influence French sailing has in the world".
It remains to be seen if this new record will soon be beaten: "I have no intention of returning to it any time soon. Record hunting is extraordinary, but also very special as there is no direct confrontation, in contrast to the Volvo Ocean Race which involves the world's best crews. That's what I'm passionate about."
"However, you can obviously rack up a time of under 45 days with Groupama 3 and Banque Populaire alike. You just need the weather on your side, along with the gear" concludes Franck Cammas.
www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/home.html
