Maxi-Tri Spindrift 2 - Jules Verne Rekordversuch

Saturday, November 21, 2015
NEWSFLASH:
The Spindrift 2 sailing team confirm that they will leave in the next 24 hours
to start their attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy round-the-world record.

NEWSFLASH: The Spindrift 2 sailing team confirm that they will leave in the next 24 hours to start their attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy round-the-world record. Download
Yann Guichard: “This is a good window and we can’t let it pass.”

24h vor Start
Foto: Eloi Stichelbaut

After analysing the latest weather files this morning, Dona Bertarelli, Yann Guichard and their team confirmed a start from Ushant in the next 24 hours on their round-the-world record attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy (the time to beat: 45 days, 13 hours 42 minutes and 53 seconds). The wind is currently blowing at over 120 km/hour (75mph) at Pointe Bretagne with 5-metre waves. The skipper and the routing experts are now refining when the team will cast off from Brest (Malbert’s quay), but the likelihood is that the trimaran will cross the startline tonight.
Yann Guichard: “This is a good window and we can’t let it pass. We’ve decided to leave Brest in the next few hours with a start on the round-the-world imminent sometime in the night from Saturday to Sunday. The North Atlantic descent will be fast – around five days to the equator. The conditions in the Bay of Biscay and during the first 36 hours will be really difficult. It’s going to make it fast downwind and that’s what we were looking for.”

Dona Bertarelli: “We went to code green after seeing the latest weather file this morning, with a start tonight in tough conditions. We'll have to look after body and boat. There are still some uncertainties in the South Atlantic, where the weather models differ slightly, but we’re seizing our chance because we can’t ignore a window like this.”
THE JULES VERNE TROPHY:
Start and finish: a line between Créac’h lighthouse (Ushant island) and Lizard Point (England) Course: non-stop around-the-world tour travelling 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: 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds Average speed: 19.75 knots Date of current record: January 2012 Holder: Banque Populaire V, Loïck Peyron and a 13-man crew Stand-by start date for Spindrift 2: October 19th, 2015

SPINDRIFT 2 CREW:
Yann Guichard, skipper Dona Bertarelli, helmsman-trimmer Sébastien Audigane, helmsman-trimmer Antoine Carraz, helmsman-trimmer Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, helmsman-trimmer Christophe Espagnon, helmsman-bowman Jacques Guichard, helmsman-trimmer Erwan Israël, navigator Loïc Le Mignon, helmsman-trimmer Sébastien Marsset, bowman François Morvan, helmsman-trimmer Xavier Revil, helmsman-trimmer Yann Riou, onboard reporter Thomas Rouxel, helmsman-bowman Jean-Yves Bernot, onshore router
Photos © Eloi Stichelbaut - Spindrift racing