There is a rather unusual situation off Mauritania this morning. The Maxi -Trimaran IDEC SPORT crossed paths with the exact position where her virtual rival and Jules Verne Trophy title-holder, Loïck Peyron’s Banque Populaire V, was sailing four years ago.
On what is an almost ideal route, Francis Joyon’s multihull is speeding along at thirty knots towards the Cape Verde Islands, while at the sae moment on her winning voyage, Loïck Peyron headed west at “only” 23.6 knots in terms of VMG. On their third day of racing Joyon and his men have a slight advantage over the reference time.
The gybe they carried out yesterday evening see them on the port tack. Joyon, Surtel, Audigane, Stamm, Pella and Gahinet should stay on this tack until the Doldrums. The Cape Verde Islands that the crew so love are 350 miles ahead of the bows of the red and white multihull. Joyon and his crew, still sailing at more than thirty knots will be passing close to the islands this evening. The trade winds are gradually shifting eastwards offering the maxi trimaran an excellent angle to dive south. Francis can therefore choose the precise route to pass the islands, either leeward of the islands or through the middle. During last month’s attempt, they sailed between the islands of Santa Lucia and San Vicente after 3 days and 15 hours following a quick voyage down from Ushant.
At the end of their second day of racing, Francis Joyon and his crew on the IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran will be passing to the north of La Palma, the westernmost island in the Canaries. In 48 hours they will have sailed a little over 1200 miles, averaging more than 29 knots.
Photo Jean Marie Liot / DPPI / IDEC
To keep us such a pace, taking into account the number of gybes that have been required since Ushant, the red and white maxi-trimaran has been keeping up speeds in excess of thirty knots. As Francis told us yesterday morning, the organisation of the watches has gone without hitch and that healthy rivalry between the helmsmen that we saw last year, is back in action, while everyone is aware of the importance of being cautious.
Sailing on a trajectory directly parallel to her virtual rival, the title-holder, Banque Populaire V, IDEC SPORT is 88 miles behind the pace, but could make up some of these losses as they round the Canaries via the west. Joyon and his men are not worrying about this data for the moment, preferring to focus on racing against the elements in a NNE’ly air stream, allowing them to make rapid progress south.
On board the maxi-trimaran Idec Sport, Sébastien Audigane from Brest, 48 years old, has replaced Boris Herrmann from Germany at short notice. A new challenge for this exceptional helmsman who has sailed with the greats. Flashback (read full article on www.letelegramme.fr)
The IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran got straight into the pace in her attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy record.
Photo Jean Marie Liot / DPPI / IDEC
Francis Joyon and his crew of five, Sébastien Audigane, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet and Bernard Stamm had from the outset to make the most of the weather. The strong NNE’ly wind forced them to carry out a series of gybes and change tack with the wind from astern. A tricky job, but one that was required in order to stay in the strip of wind, which will see them passing Spain and Portugal on their second day. Permanently above thirty knots, Joyon and his men, while not diving straight down, are managing to make good headway south.
The first 24 hours match the forecasts established by Francis and Marcel van Triest before they set off with around a loss of 75 miles in comparison to the pace of the title-holder Banque Populaire V. Not wishing to hang around, when there was a job to be done, Joyon’s boys decoded to give it a go and make the most of this weather opportunity, confident in the ability of their boat, which has been fine tuned since last year’s attempt.
At 08:19:00 UTC* in the first glimmer of light this Friday, IDEC SPORT crossed the start line off Ushant at more than twenty knots in her dash to grab the outright round the world record. The six men on board have to be back by 22:00:53 UTC on Monday 30th January to improve on the time set in January 2012 by Loïck Peyron’s crew and see their name inscribed on the famous Trophy.
After gathering on the pontoon very early this morning, the crew of IDEC SPORT were clearly eager to get going and did not hang around in the dark of night. Under the watchful gaze of the Abeille Bourbon tug, Francis Joyon, Alex Pella, Gwénolé Gahinet, Clément Surtel, Sébastien Audigane and Bernard Stamm left the harbour in Brest at 0530 UTC to make their way aboard the red and grey trimaran to the start line for the Jules Verne Trophy.
Highlights of what the men said on the pontoon:
Francis Joyon: “This morning the forecasts are a little better than yesterday evening. We should be able to pick up the northerly winds without as great a risk of finding calms. Thesituation is more comfortable. In terms of the weather that lies ahead, we can see what is going to happen to around Uruguay environ, which is 6000 miles from here. We are stubborn and the goal is the same. We want to be back in les than 45 days. We’re not mathematicians and it is hard talking in terms of percentages in this type of adventure. But we are in with a chance, which is already helpful and we needed to grab this opportunity.”
Alex Pella: “For this final night ashore, I slept on the boat. I got ahead of my mates and have already settled in. I’m not the only one, as we all are in a hurry to get going now, as this apparently looks like a good opportunity. It was har having to wait. We feel more relaxed than last time. Our first attempt, when we spent a fortnight at sea really helped as it allowed us to get to know each other and the boat again. It was good training and now it’s time to set off for real.”
Gwénolé Gahinet: “We had a few hours before leaving the harbour. The start was planned and that means we are more relaxed this time. We’ll be fast to the Equator and the first part looks pleasing. In the South Atlantic, it won’t be quite as fast, but it is looking like a decent time to the Cape of Good Hope and who knows, we could be in for a surprise. It was good practice last time and now I don’t feel stressed and am ready to go.”
Clément Surtel: “Time has been slipping by and the stand-by period always seems a bit long. I’m really pleased to be back here again. In this round the world voyage, we have clear visibility to the Equator, while the stretch to the Cape of Good Hope will become clearer in the next two or three days. On a human level, this is still an adventure. We’re not going off on a cruise and we’re facing a round the world voyage with all its difficulties. But I think everyone is committed and fully motivated to go and get the record. Technically, we remain confident. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will let us through. It will be down to that.”
Sébastien Audigane: “I’m really in the mindset for an attempt at theJules Verne. I’m setting off for 43-44 days, which is a huge deal. What is rather special is that I have only known this for a week. I had to learn at 100 mph and now I can’t wait to get going.”
Bernard Stamm: “Thesituation looks better than last time for setting off. We had time to prepare and do things properly. We’re more relaxed for this second attempt. Last time I got dressed in case we were setting off and there were a lot of uncertainties right up to the final moment. The weather isn’t looking too bad at all for the Northern Hemisphere, even if we have more doubts about the South. There is time for things to change and settle down. We’ll see. It’s nice setting off during the day. It’s not as scary putting your foot down from the start. It is looking good to the Equator; and the time comes when you simply have to go.”
* The precise time awaits ratification from the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council)
The IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran has just gone to code green, meaning that their departure is imminent. They are about to make another attempt at the outright crewed round the world record, the Jules Verne Trophy.
Francis Joyon and his crew comprising Clément Surtel, Alex Pella, Bernard Stamm, Gwénolé Gahinet and Sébastien Audigane are back in Brest, where they are carrying out the final preparations and stowing supplies on the boat.
A window of opportunity has arisen with a start possible in the mid-morning on Thursday from Ushant. It should give them a good time to the Equator, as long as they manage to deal well with the first 36 hours, which look rough off Brittany. Francis Joyon is giving himself a few more hours to think about it before deciding whether to cast off tomorrow or not.
The latest sea state observations and forecasts for the near Atlantic and the weather systems expected in the South Atlantic are being analysed by Marcel van Triest. The Dutch router will provide his final analysis this evening to enable Francis and his crew to take the ultimate decision about whether to set sail shortly or wait until later in the week for the seas to ease.
The IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran has gone to code amber, meaning that they may be starting on Wednesday evening in their latest attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, the outright crewed round the world record.
Francis Joyon, his crew and onshore router, Marcel van Triest are carefully watching the European and American weather forecasts, as at the moment they seem to offer a good time to the Equator and the Cape of Good Hope, if they leave tomorrow evening. The air masses change rapidly at this time of year and they need to be able to react quickly to get onto the right system and take advantage of the trade winds without getting held up between systems.
Francis Joyon, Gwénolé Gahinet, Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel and the newcomer, Sébastien Audigane, who has just replaced the German, Boris Herrmann, now working on other projects, are getting together in Paris this evening after receiving an invitation from Patrice Lafargue, President of the IDEC Group, for a special event dedicated to racing and the Jules Verne Trophy. They will then quickly head back to Brest where the maxi trimaran IDEC SPORT awaits.
Back in Brest and already on stand-by for another attempt, as soon as some favourable weather arrives, Francis Joyon has made a slight change to his crew. The German sailor, Boris Herrmann is now focusing on his 2020 Vendée Globe campaign ansd is being replaced by Sébastien Audigane. A good all rounder, recognised for his skill at the helm, Sébastien has a wealth of experience of round the world sailing, and has an excellent knowledge of the boat, having previously sailed on her at the time of Groupama 3. He is someone who admires Francis Joyon, is friends with Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella and Clément Surtel, Big Seb has already merged well into the team and can’t wait to begin the attempt at the Trophy, which since Geronimo and Olivier de Kersauzon, has determined his career plan and lifestyle.
By joining the crew of the IDEC SPORT maxi trimaran, Sébastien Audigane will not be entering a strange universe. One of the legendary figures in the Jules Verne Trophy, Sébastien Audigane has shown his human qualities and talents abord some of the leading projects in the history of the event. “Olivier de Kersauzon gave me the taste for sailing around the world as quickly as possible. I sailed on Geronimo at the start of my career, explained the 48-year old sailor. “I was proud and pleased to win the Jules Verne Trophy aboard Bruno Peyron’s maxi catamaran Orange II with a certain Bernard Stamm. I also sailed on Banque Populaire V, but was not abaord for their winning campaign with Loïck Peyron.”
His knowledge of the boat, the race course and his talents at the helm meant that last year he was part of the Spindrift adventure. Sébastien is setring off again this time with just as much enthusiasm as back in the early days. “Sailing around the world is still just as exciting for me,” he admits. “The course is fantastic and these boats are magical. IDEC SPORT proved last year that she was capable of beating the record, if the winds are favourable in the south.”
Boris Herrmann is stepping off the boat with some mixed feelings. On the one hand there is the regret at leaving this exceptional group ofn sailors, but at the same time he is looking forward to seeing his Vendée Globe dreams come true after purchasing an IMOCA that is currently racing. He said last weekend talking about handing over to Sébastien, that he is “a sailor I know well and have huge respect for and I’m sure hell fit in perfectly with the group.”
Sébastien Audigane in short…
Sébastien Audigane does not leave people feeling indifferent about him. The sailor built like a rugby player stands out in terms of his size? Secondly, there is the kindness coming from such a physique that surprises. Big Seb is a discreet yet efficient and measured sailor. The model crewman.
For more than fifteen years, he has been indispensable wherever he lays his hat, from Dragon racing to the Figaro class, meaning that he is always on the short list when teams are establishing their ocean racing projects. Bruno Peyron, Franck Cammas, Loïck Peyron and more recently, Yann Guichard and Dona Bertarelli have chosen him as their favourite helmsman, as he shows confidence and skill at the helm of these maxi-multihulls as they race around the world. It is the ocean that inspires and motivates the Breton.
At ease at the helm of a 15m IR in the Mediterranean sunshine, year after year, he looks towrds the desolate wastelands of the Southern Ocean, as if 5 roundings of Cape Horn is not enough. Seb wants more. Watch leader last year on Spindrift, he sees it as a blessing that Francis Joyon has invited him aboard this maxi-trimaran that he knows well, Franck Cammas’s former Groupama 3.
It would be understating things to say that his wide range of talents fit in perfectly with the demands of Joyon’s elite troops.The confidence he shows will be a quality that the others on IDEC SPORT share, along with the pleasure of sailing on the big red and grey maxi-trimaran, which will certainly continue with the arrival of the new boy.
