Author: Grégoire Chéron

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A few weeks before the start of the Jules Verne Trophy stand-by, the Spindrift racing team found themselves isolated at an altitude of several thousand meters, taking on one final challenge before attacking the one around the world.  During a remarkable four-days of preparation in the Alps, the crew of the maxi trimaran, accompanied by Dona Bertarelli, climbed Mont Blanc via the historic Saint Gervais route.  It was an unprecedented climb, that strengthened the team dynamics with every metre climbed towards the summit and further reinforced the team spirit that has been the cornerstone of Spindrift racing since it was founded by Yann Guichard and Dona Bertarelli.

© Edouard Elias / Chris Schmid / Spindrift racing

The setting may seem unusual for sailors more accustomed to the unpredictable oceans around the globe, however this was all part of the aspiration. Climbing Mont Blanc was amongst the list of challenges to be accomplished by each member of the Spindrift team. In the same way as preparing for a sailing record, the team spent the first two days meticulously getting acclimatised in readiness for the challenge. With the support of an excellent team of mountain guides brought together by Eric Loizeau, they became familiar with how to use mountaineering equipment on a variety of terrains, even testing their ice axes and crampons on ice sheets.

Early the following morning the sailors-turned-mountaineers made their first steps towards the Tête Rousse glacier and then on to the Refuge du Gouter. The weather conditions were superb and the physical efforts of the first day’s 2000 metre climb where a foretaste of what was to come.

After a brief overnight rest, the team donned their crampons and headed out on the last stretch to the roof of Europe.  Far from being a normal walk, the climb was challenging yet precise. Each roped team was made up of a guide and two crew (who will be on the same watch for the Jules Verne Trophy attempt).  They climbed at their own pace along ridges, which at certain points were only the width of two feet, and scaled walls of ice and crevasses. The effort was intense, but the enjoyment of this climb was directly proportional to the beauty of the landscape that surrounded them. Once at the peak, then came the long descent back to Saint-Gervais where the mind began  to take on over the physical strain.

With the 4,810 metre climb completed, everyone agreed that it was an incredible human adventure and, for many, one of the hardest physical exercises they had taken part in.
“If the sea and the mountain seem to have a lot in common, it is not sailing and mountaineering,” commented Yann Guichard on his arrival back at the foot of Mont Blanc. “Climbing is a very extreme sport where there is no room for the slightest mistake. Risk management is paramount and, as a team leader, something that I am very aware of.  I have great admiration and respect for the guides who accompanied us. They left nothing to chance, be that in the choice of equipment or routes taken.“

But more than a sporting challenge it was also the balance, strength and stability of the group that Yann Guichard wanted to confirm during this ascent.  And as Dona added “being a team, is being able to count on one another, help each other, accept the ups and downs and strive to find the right balance to succeed together. This is what we did during this climb, we did it independently, in conditions close to those aboard Spindrift 2; namely minimal comfort and very limited means of communication. This change of scenery has been beneficial to us all and further reinforced the choice of this team that are ready to take on a new record attempt around the world. “

Back in Brittany the crew, whose will be announced shortly, will return to training before the start of the official stand-by period for a favourable weather slot to start the Jules Verne Trophy.

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As the giant trimaran made its way to the Créac’h Lighthouse (isle of Ouessant) for a second attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, Spindrift 2 dismasted at about 16:15 today (monday 15 january 2018), south of pointe Saint-Mathieu in a strong 30 knot westerly breeze and rough seas.

Spindrift 2 was ready for this new attempt around the world with a relatively favourable weather window, after a long two-month stand-by at La Trinité sur Mer and then in Brest, Brittany.

With strong winds around Brest, the start from the pontoon was delayed to 1430h. Once Spindrift was into the Iroise, an area of open sea in front of Brest between the Atlantic and the Channel, the sea state was already well formed and the wind blowing at more than 30 knots with strong gusts. As the boat tacked towards the Ouessant Channel, with no warning suddenly Spindrift 2 dismasted. No crew member was injured in the incident.

© Chris Schmid / Spindrift racing

“Everything happened very fast! In a few seconds, the mast was down. We have been waiting for two months for this new attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy: this window was our last chance. It is a big disappointment for the whole team, both at sea, and on land as we were all ready. We have spent a lot of time optimising the boat, and everything collapses in a few moments” said Yann Guichard.

“We were heading to the start line: there were relatively strong conditions with 30 knots of wind and three metre troughs. A few moments before we were going to tack towards Pointe Saint-Mathieu, the mast broke for some unknown reason. The most important thing is that there were no injuries on board. Unfortunately we had to drop the mast into the sea as we did not want to take any unnecessary risks for the crew because we were very close to the rocks at Toulinguet. Operations are currently underway to recover the mast and rigging as quickly as possible, as the weather is set to deteriorate early tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. We will now start the process of understanding what has happened” he concluded.

© Chris Schmid / Spindrift racing

At about 1600h (CET) today, Monday 15 January 2018, Spindrift 2 was sailing just off Point St Matthieu and Camaret in Brittany on her way to the start line of the Jules Verne Trophy, when she dismasted.

At the time the 40m trimaran was sailing at 15-18 knots of boat speed in 30 knot westerly winds and in three metre seas.  Spindrfit 2 had two reefs in the main and the J3 (ORC).

Yann Guichard, skipper of the Maxi Spindrift 2 says: “The crew is safe and sound. Everything happened so fast. The mast fell to the leeward of the boat. The conditions were not so extreme. It’s too early to know exactly what happened. We had to drop the rigging to save the boat and prepare it for towing.  Operations are currently underway to recover it.”

Spindrift 2 will now return to Brest and is currently under tow and expected to arrive later this evening.

Yann Guichard and his crew arrived in Brest last night to start the Jules Verne Trophy. Despite a good though not ideal weather window, after two months on stand-by Spindrift racing has decided to take its chance and will leave the dock late this morning to be at the Créac’h lighthouse in the afternoon.

The team was planning to start a week ago, but the weather further down the course did not materialise as anticipated.  However, the area of depression that is currently sitting off the coast of Brittany has finally given the team the opportunity to start their challenge on the Jules Verne record. With strong conditions forecast for the start, the current files show the team reaching the equator in just over five days (5d 5h – 5d 10h), which will give them a cushion on the reference time set by Francis Joyon and his crew (5d 18h 59′).

The team is aiming to catch an area of depression off the coast of Brazil to give them a quick crossing of the South Atlantic towards the Cape of Good Hope.

“We are now Code Green: the latest weather files confirm our departure from the pontoon around noon today, with a Jules Verne Trophy line crossing following quickly.  The 25-30 knot wind from west to north-west will strengthen as we cross the Bay of Biscay, and we are expecting big seas with five metre waves.  It looks like the first 12 hours will be hard going, but then the wind will soften off Cape Finisterre to more moderate trade winds, and we will be doing a lot of gybes towards the Canary Islands,” commented Yann Guichard as the last of the fresh food was taken onboard Spindrift 2.

Yann Guichard has made the decision to return to Brest following analysis of this evening’s weather files.  The weather window, which mobilised Yann Guichard and his eleven crew to leave Brest at 1800h did not materialise as expected.

After a long stand-by, in the main due to a very active North Atlantic, Spindrift racing is planning to start their Jules Verne Trophy attempt late tonight (Monday). The crew has all now arrived in Brest to make the final preparations ahead of leaving for the start line late this afternoon. 

This more favourable weather window comes after a series of depressions and extreme conditions similar to those seen with Carmen and Eleanor in Western Europe at the start of this year. While the North Atlantic still remains complicated, a more favourable weather window is emerging with the arrival of a succession of fronts off the Azores: after an upwind start, a wind shift in the Northwest will allow the team to quickly join the trade winds at the Canaries.

A CHALLENGING START

“We have not had an opening since the start of our stand-by mid-November! This is the first opportunity that is emerging but we will start by joining the front to the West that will then allow us to go downwind from Northwest to the Canaries.  With the exception of this start, the route looks pretty classic towards rounding the Azores. “ says the skipper of Spindrift 2, Yann Guichard.

It is anticipated that the team will cross the equator in a little over five days, slightly longer than the time achieved by Spindrift 2 during its first attempt in November 2015 (4d 21h 29 ‘), but it should set a good benchmark against the current crewed record (IDEC Sport 2017: 5d 18h 59 ‘). The aim is to enter the Indian Ocean with a small margin compared to the current Jules Verne Trophy, but also to pull together a favorable meteorological configuration in the Southern Ocean.

“It does not look as if the St. Helena High in the South Atlantic will block us, but let’s face it: we planned a stand-by until the end of January and starting at the beginning of this week, we no longer have a joker to play!  Whether it is a successful attempt or not, there will be no more this winter … So we must make good time (around 12 days) to reach the longitude of Cape Agulhas.  IDEC reached this point in 12d 21h 22s but then had a remarkable section across the Indian Ocean. 

“Spindrift 2 is ready, the crew is ready, we are happy to leave! The only thing left is to pick up the fresh food this morning and we anticipate leaving the dock at about 1700h and crossing the line late tonight (Monday). ”  Yann Guichard

A NEW DEDICATED WEBSITE
With a departure imminent later tonight, Spindrift racing has launched its website platform dedicated to following the record attempt with real-time cartography and an interactive dashboard: WWW.SPINDRIFT-RACING.COM/JULES-VERNE

VIDEO: START AND FINISH IN USHANT
This is where the adventure starts and ends. Discover the atmosphere of the departure along the coastline of the island of Ushant by meeting Thierry Leygnac. Thierry, a helicopter pilot based in Morbihan has been at many of the starts and finishes and gives his bird’s eye view of this iconic race. Click here

SPINDRIFT IMMERSION IN VANNES
Spindrift Immersion will be the public control centre for the race, allowing visitors to follow the team and the attempt with the latest photos, videos and logbooks from onboard the boat. A route map will show weather and boat data all in real-time. Open from Wednesday to Sunday.

Get onboard Spindrift 2 through a series of 360° videos!

SPINDRIFT FOR SCHOOLS
Developed for pupils aged between 6 to 15 years old, the Spindrift for Schools programme invites pupils to follow the Jules Verne Trophy attempt with an Adventure Book, themed lessons, downloadable maps and other engaging and educational tools. Sign up and join our global classroom!  www.spindriftforschools.com

EMAGAZINE FOCUS#5
Read again our e-magazine, FOCUS which is entirely dedicated to the Jules Verne Trophy here you can find background on the crew, the team and the event itself. Click here

Spindrift Racing announced today that the team was passing in Code Orange. The maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 could leave Brest and cross the starting line of the Jules Verne Trophy within 4 days. More information to come.