FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2011 - 10H30
Maxi Banque Populaire V : workings will take longer than expected>BR>
Back in Lorient since last Sunday after a first failed attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy, the Maxi Banque Populaire has just been through a complete check-up by the expert technicians of the Team and architects from VPLP and CDK. This meticulous inspection of the giant trimaran has detected, despite a very satisfactory general state, a small problem on the aft beam. The time required to repair such damage is not compatible with a departure at the beginning of March. Facing this situation and meteorological constraints, Banque Populaire, Pascal Bidegorry and the whole crew decided to take the time required to implement all the necessary work and consider a new around the world adventure for next November.
Even though the crew was happy to be back on firm land last Sunday, on the pontoons of the submarine base of Keroman, a tenacious desire to go back on the conquest of the Jules Verne Trophy was in all sailors’ minds. The first overall check of Maxi, as a first approximation, estimated that roughly ten days would be necessary to undertake fixings before a possible return offshore if an interesting weather window presented itself. After three days of painstaking investigations, one single detail compromises the initial time set for repairs: a damage on the aft cross beam fairing which extends more importantly than they thought. After an extensive look at the area, it appears that a further diagnosis with analysis will have to be done. This will take some time before actually repairing it, which will also take several days.
Pierre-Emmanuel Hérissé, technical manager of the Maxi Banque Populaire V, was in charge of the examination undertaken these recent days and confirmed the findings: "The boat came back in a great general condition, but the additional inspection we need to do on the aft beam, along with weather constraints arriving with the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere, do not allow to go back in the time frame originally set. Thus, we must leave us a little longer than expected, which is a collective decision we took with architects. "
Superior to ten days originally planned, the time required to prepare the Maxi Banque Populaire V back into departure configuration thus forced Pascal Bidégorry and his men to postpone to next November. Indeed, given the imminent arrival of spring in our climate, and therefore the winter in the southern hemisphere, it would not be reasonable to consider a departure once repairs are completed. With massive formation of ice and violent storms, it would be ill-considered for sailors and the boat to go for a second attempt.
This decision, along with its security matters, is fully followed by Banque Populaire, as confirmed Chantal Petrachi, Communications Director of the Group: "Tenacity and pugnacity have always characterized Banque Populaire. If there had been one tiny opportunity to depart again, we would obviously have seized it. We really thank the whole Banque Populaire Team, who mobilized so quickly to seize the slightest opportunity for a new start. It is not trivial to spend 30 days at sea and it is quite normal to conduct a full check-up of the boat and you have to listen to the verdict. We have always respected the opinion of the technical teams and of sailors. Once you have to list the repairs according to the time limit, it becomes unreasonable. We always said that we would try to get the Jules Verne Trophy during three seasons. This first attempt was very positive and we all come out grown-up. We saw the boat’s capacity, the crew’s management over a long period, the popularity and the fascination it has generated internally and to the general public and we will depart next season with an even stronger determination".
In a few months, the Team Banque Populaire will head again on this record around the world, determined to write their story on the Jules Verne Trophy. In the meantime, between training and the optimization of the Maxi, the time should pass quickly for Pascal Bidégorry and his crew.
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