23.01.2005, 19:00
> Jules Verne Trophy 2005
>
> Press Release N°6
> Lorient, Sunday 23rd January 2005
ORANGE II HAS LEFT LORIENT
>
> As announced this morning, the giant Orange II cast off from her base
> in Lorient this afternoon at 4.30 GMT to head for the starting line of
> the Jules Verne Trophy that they plan to cross tomorrow in the middle
> of the day. On board, 14 men trying to accomplish a major feat with
> some clear goals in mind. The two major ones being the Jules Verne
> Trophy record, held since the 29th April 2004 by Olivier de Kersauson
> and the crew of the trimaran Geronimo (in 63d, 13h 59mn), then the
> absolute round the world record, held since the fifth of April 2004 by
> the American Steve Fossett and the crew of the maxi-catamaran Cheyenne
> (in 58d, 09h, 32mn).
> Before going aboard, Bruno Peyron thanked his partner Orange, the
> teams responsible for building and preparing the boat, and each member
> of the crew.
Here are some extracts from the press briefing:
>
> A good window of opportunity for the start
> "The weather conditions are good, as the high has headed up towards
> the British Isles and the south eastern edge of this high should offer
> us an east north easterly wind. We hope to cross the starting line
> tomorrow in the middle of the day."
> The boat is more than ready
> "The boat and her crew have more than 20,000 miles behind them since
> last winter. Our sailing this summer during the attempt at the
> Atlantic and Mediterranean records allowed us to push the boat all the
> way and to correct some teething problems. Today, she is in perfect
> race mode."
The Vendée Globe
> "I can’t help thinking of those on their way back after such a great
> race. Over the next few days, we’re going to try to keep out of their
> way as they’re sailing at night without the radar."
>
The Jules Verne Trophy
> "It’s the race of absolute freedom. It’s such a great route with
> clearly many difficulties and very varied and complex weather
> conditions. It’s not by chance that so few attempts have succeeded
> until now."
Orange II
> "She is in theory the fastest boat in the world. She showed her full
> potential last summer with the 24 h record and the Mediterranean
> crossing. It’s up to us to prove that she is the fastest boat sailing
> around the world."
A tough route
> "It should not be forgotten that we sailors are not stronger than a
> year ago. The boat is very big, very heavy, with a lot of sail (more
> than 1000 m2 of sail). We must always keep in mind the amount of power
> we have at our fingertips."
The Indian Ocean
> "Every sailor, who has experience of the round the world voyage, has a
> bad story to tell about the Indian Ocean. We must be very cautious and
> alert during the crossing of this ocean, where it is difficult to
> forecast the situation."
The food stowed on board
> "We are taking 58 days of food with us. Psychologically, it’s good to
> tell ourselves that we won’t have any food left after 58 days."
> Radio sessions: daily appointment from tomorrow afternoon at 1.15 GMT
> The radio sessions with base will be broadcast live on the website
> every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at exactly 1.15 GMT in the
> afternoon: www.maxi-catamaran-orange.com
> Every Wednesday the radio session will also be shown by video
> conference link on the website and on Orange 3G mobile handsets.
The crew of Orange II
> The 14 men taking part in this new attempt at the Round the World
> sailing record (Jules Verne Trophy 2005), on board Orange II are :
> Bruno Peyron (Skipper), Roger Nilson (navigator, doctor), Lionel
> Lemonchois (watch leader - helmsman), Philippe Péché (watch leader -
> helmsman), Yann Elies (watch leader - helmsman), Ronan Le Goff
> (Bowman, in charge of rigging), Sébastien Audigane (helmsman, in
> charge of safety), Jacques Caraes (adjustor, in charge of filming),
> Florent Chastel (bowman, in charge of running rigging), Yves Le Blévec
> (adjuster, in charge of the general organisation), Jean-Baptiste Epron
> (adjuster, in charge of supplies and logistics), Nicolas de Castro
> (Bowman, in charge of composites), Ludovic Aglaor (helmsman) and
> Bernard Stamm (helmsman, in charge of mechanics).
Bruno Peyron
> Pioneer of ocean multihull racing since the early 80’s, Bruno Peyron
> has taken part in almost all of the major sailing events, both
> single-handed events and with a crew. He has 37 Atlantic crossings
> under his belt, 12 of which were single-handed. Twice record holder of
> the single-handed crossing (1987 & 1992). Twice record holder of the
> Pacific crossing with a crew (1997 & 1998), one major victory sums up
> his racing career: he was in 1993, the first sailor to go around the
> world in less than 80 days, thus winning the first Jules Verne Trophy.
> He created The Race, which began at the end of 2000, then repeated his
> exploit around the world in 2002, becoming the holder of the Jules
> Verne Trophy for a second time.
> Bruno Peyron is today the record holder of the greatest number of
> miles covered in a maxi-catamaran (295,000 miles). He has beaten the
> 24 hour record on four occasions (1982 / 1995 / 2000/ 2004). He is the
> only skipper to have covered more than 700 miles in 24 h, and since
> last summer, has been the holder of the Mediterranean crossing record.
The records Orange II has to beat
> - The Jules Verne Trophy has been held by Olivier de Kersauson and the
> crew of the trimaran Geronimo, in 63 days, 13h 59mins, since the 29th
> April 2004.
> - The absolute round the world record has been held by the American
> Steve Fossett, in 58 days, 09h, 32mins, since the 5th April 2004.
>
> The most recent records set by Orange II
> – The 24 hour world record (706.2 miles covered at an average speed of
> 29.42 knots),
> – The Mediterranean Record (17h 56mn and 13s, at an average of 25.53
> knots).
> Copyright free TV feed
> A TV feed will be broadcast today at 5,30 p.m. GMT via Serte Paris. It
> will include the latest footage of the boat and the crew of Orange II,
> pictures of the atmosphere for the start in Lorient and an interview
> with Bruno Peyron.
Follow the Jules Verne Trophy on Internet
> The official website www.maxicatamaran-orange.com will allow you to
> follow Bruno Peyron’s latest attempt at the Round the World record.
> The press section will allow you to download photos and extracts from
> the daily radio sessions with the boat.
>
> Media pass
> A request for a media pass for journalists can be found on line on the
> official website:
> www.maxicatamaran-orange.com (press feature). We would ask you to fill
> in this form online now, in order to receive the press releases at the
> rate you require. Access to the press feature will also allow you to
> consult and download the radio sessions, photos and video footage of
> Orange II. A photo library will also shortly be available with all of
> the pictures of Orange II.
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