Category: Joyon

The IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin at 1518hrs UTC 17 days, 6 hours and 59 minutes after leaving Ushant. This means they were almost 16 hours and 57 minutes ahead of the reference time set by Loïck Peyron and his men on Banque Populaire V (17 days, 23 hours and 56 minutes) having sailed at an average speed above 28 knots out on the water.

 

The Indian Ocean record between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin: The reference time between Cape Agulhas marking the entrance into the Indian Ocean and Cape Leeuwin has just been smashed with a  time of 4 days, 9 hours and 37 minutes, which is one day, 1 hour and 46 minutes ahead of the reference time set by Francis Joyon and his men in 2015 (5 days, 11 hours and 23 minutes) and one day, 12 hours and 31 minutes ahead of the title-holder Banque Populaire V (6 days and 8 minutes). The Indian Ocean was crossed at an incredible average speed of 35.08 knots (3705 miles).

An amazing feat

By crossing the longitude of Cape Leeuwin in SW Australia this afternoon after entering the Indian Ocean on Thursday 29^th December, the IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran has just achieved one of the most amazing feats in the history of the Jules Verne Trophy. Joyon, Surtel, Audigane, Pella, Gahinet and Stamm have sailed seven whole days at more than 800 miles a day with peaks from 28^th to 31^st December respectively of 876, 871 and 869 miles, meaning an average speed of more than 36 knots.

Ushant – Australia in just 17 days, 6 hours and 59 minutes

After setting out from Ushant on 16^th December taking advantage of what he called an average weather opportunity, Joyon and his incredible gang had to work hard in an Atlantic that was far from cooperative and fell some 755 miles behind the pace set by the title-holder, the maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V skippered by Loïck Peyron with a crew of thirteen. Diving down into the Forties they hopped onto the front of a low on which they are still sailing a long way off Cape Leeuwin. There have been supersonic speeds throughout this crossing and all carried out on a straight line, shattering all the records today. Crossing the longitude of Cape Leeuwin in 17 days, 6 hours and 59 minutes, Joyon and his gang have improved on Peyron’s performance by sixteen hours. Groupama 3, which became IDEC SPORT, took 21 days and 14 hours to sail this distance in 2010.

The Indian in 4 days and 9 hours – averaging more than 35 knots

The record time between Cape Agulhas marking the entrance into the Indian Ocean and Cape Leeuwin already belonged to Francis Joyon and his men after their performance last year with a time of 5 days 11 hours and 23 minutes. That time is completely annihilated after this historic week, as it has been taken to 4 days, 9 hours and 37 minutes. It is true that Ushant is still a long way ahead and they will only be at the halfway point at the end of the week. But IDEC SPORT has not yet finished sailing on her straight trajectory at speed and hopes to continue to do this until they approach the Pacific…

A huge effort

The crew of IDEC SPORT have have had their foot down since they entered the Forties, watch after watch taking it in turns to deal with this high speed sailing. “Conditions were right to allow us to sail quickly and without too much work,” explained Francis Joyon, far from any triumphalism after seeing the ocean covered in just a few days. “We are concentrating on our job at the helm, staying there for no longer than half an hour and paying attention to the trimming. Always on the port tack, manoeuvres involved taking in or shaking out a reef and modifying the headsail. That was the case last night, when we ran into an area of squalls that were not forecast. “The talent of the helmsmen is working wonders on these calm seas. “We are entering a transition zone today between the low that has been behind us for several days and a new low forming ahead of us,” added Bernard Stamm. “As long as these two systems don’t merge, wind conditions should remain unstable.” IDEC SPORT is continuing at high speed with wind on the beam from the north, which can be tricky when the giant trimaran lifts up her windward float. “More than ever, as we are beginning to feel tired, we need to be cautious at the helm and at the sheets,” insisted Captain Joyon.
The men on IDEC SPORT, far from celebrating their achievement, are looking ahead to what is coming up and aim to continue on this winning tack. “We thought it would take us longer to catch Banque Populaire V,” declared a surprised Francis Joyon, “in the Pacific, where Loïck had a few difficult days. We are pleased. The Pacific is looking good for us, and we are determined to make the most of that.”

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com

IDEC SPORT’s dash across the Southern Ocean  should be rewarded this afternoon with the first intermediate record for Joyon and Co. They look like setting an incredible time to Cape Leeuwin in SW Australia, the second major cape in the Jules Verne Trophy.

 

It will have taken them just over 17 days since leaving Ushant, some twenty hours ahead of the reference time set by the title-holder, Banque Populaire V. Joyon, Pella, Stamm, Gahinet, Audigane and Surtel should be setting a new record for the stretch between the Cape of Good Hope and Leeuwin, which they covered at an average speed of more than 36 knots.

The speed has dropped slightly since yesterday evening, as expected by Francis Joyon yesterday. The strong winds are on the left of the boat, shifting to the north. This requires skill at the helm with teh wind on the beam and speeds will not be as high as over the past few days since entering the Indian OCean on 29th December, just four days ago. The lead over Loïck Peyron and his crew of thirteen is now 437 miles, and they are still extending this lead, with IDEC SPORT continuing to go straight on gaining by taking the direct route in the Furious Fifties.

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com

Sorry, this entry is only available in French.

Sorry, this entry is only available in French.

1000 miles from the Kerguelens that they should pass via the south, IDEC SPORT is continuing to progress at high speed. Francis Joyon and his crew are keeping up some very high averages and in so doing narrowing the gap to their virtual rival the holder of the Jules Verne Trophy. The speedo is stuck on around 35 knots meaning that the record attempt is definitely still onin the Indian Ocean. They need to keep an eye out for ice in these hostile latitudes…

 

Aboard IDEC SPORT, which entered the Southern Ocean yesterday, Francis Joyon and his crewmen are taking it in turns every half hour at the helm to make the most of the favourable conditions. As they enter the Fifties, the big red and white trimaran is narrowing the gap to Banque Populaire V, whose lead is melting away. In the rankings this Friday morning, the deficit of 755 miles recorded on 26th December is now down to less than 300 miles.

On the deck, warm clothing and gloves are required as the trimaran dives into the Southen Ocean. The radar is on permanent watch and is a vital help in these southern latitudes. “It is very cold with the se temperature down to 2 or 3°” stated Sébastien Audigane, in a video sent back this morning. Famous for his skill at the helm, Big Seb admits he is enjoying seeing the dials indicate such high speeds in the leaden skies of the Indian Ocean. “We’ve just shaken out a reef as we weren’t going fast enough, just 35 knots, so now we’re under full mainsail and making forty knots.”

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com

 

Still at full power, IDEC SPORT crossed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope, the first of the three major capes in the Jules Verne Trophy at 0347 hrs UTC after 12 days and 19 hours. Pushed along in front of a low-pressure system, Francis Joyon and his crew are keeping up high average speeds having sailed 879 miles in 24 hours at an average of 36.6 knots.

 

Since they entered the Southern Ocean 48 hours ago, Francis Joyon, Alex Pella, Bernard Stamm, Gwénolé Gahinet, Clément Surtel and Sébastien Audigane have been clocking up incredible speeds in ideal conditions. On the attack, the six sailors are taking it in turns at the helm as they fight hard to remain ahead of the system. They have therefore been able to regain a lot of the ground they lost in the South Atlantic as they aim for the record time of 45 days and 13 hours, and meanwhile have clocked up the best day in the history of the Jules Verne Trophy.

Today they are less than one day off the pace (21h and 40mins) set by the title-holder, Banque Populaire V skippered by Loïck Peyron. This deficit is continuing to fall, as conditions remain favourable for IDEC SPORT with a good wind angle allowing them to remain at around 35 knots. It was at 0541 this Thursday morning that the red and white trimaran entered the Indian Ocean passing Cape Agulhas. In this cold and hostile wasteland, they are currently reaching peak speeds of around forty knots.

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com

“If we pass the Cape of Good Hope one day or one and a half days behind the record, that will be good,” said Francis Joyon before the start in Brest, after looking at the weather forecasts for the Atlantic. Sailing ahead of a low since yesterday, the IDEC SPORT Maxi trimaran is ahead of their initial forecasts. They have reduced their deficit to the title-holder to 600 miles or in other words around a day of sailing. Banque Populaire V rounded the first of the three major capes after 11 days, 21 hours and 48 minutes.

 

Sailing at more than 38 knots, the big red and white trimaran has sailed 825 miles in 24 hours and should pass the Cape of Good Hope in less than 13 days, which is a substantial gain over the pace achieved last year. They will be trying to stay in this NW’ly air stream for as long as possible. Joyon, Surtel, Pella, Audigane, Stamm and Gahinet are on the attack and happy to get back up to the sort of speed they were hoping for from their Maxi Trimaran IDEC SPORT.

 

Like their virtual rival in December 2011, they will have to gybe at some point to stay with the wind and dive into the Southern Ocean to head towards the Kerguelens, after passing Cape Agulhas marking the entrance into the Indian Ocean.

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com

At the start of the eleventh day of racing, IDEC SPORT has entered the Forties. On the way into the Southern Ocean, the big red and white trimaran got a taste during the night of the NW’ly winds generated by the first Southern low. 1500 miles from the Cape of Good Hope, speeds are back up.Francis Joyon and his men are speeding along at more than thirty knots.

 

It took courage and determination to find their way through the traps and calms associated with the St. Helena high, which was blocking their route down the South Atlantic. Francis Joyon and the router Marcel van Triest have kept hard at it during this demanding phase.

In spite of some complicated weather patterns, they have managed to get away from this zone thanks to a laborious route and enter the Big South. They have kept the distance to their virtual rival, the title-holder down to 730 miles. The winds have gradually been strengthening over the past few hours and the men and boat are ready to race across the Southern Ocean. They are on the attack !

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com

 

The Christmas truce is over. After a long straight run yesterday, which allowed the crew of IDEC SPORT to perform better than expected in the South Atlantic, they have now entered a transition zone, where they have to pay the toll before entering the more powerful winds further south.

Early yesterday afternoon after a long straight track due south, Francis Joyon, Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet and Sébastien Audigane carried out  a series of gybes in winds which were forecast to ease off. It is not surprising that speeds fell and the gap to Banque Populaire V increased, as in 2012, the latter managed to keep on the fast track although going further via the west of the St. Helena high. This morning the red and grey trimaran is 647 miles behind her virtual rival.

Soon, the crew of six will be tacking upwind in light airs. However, in spite of all the hard work ahead on Monday between two weather systems there is the promise of an acceleration as the winds come around and strengthen as they head towards te cape of Good Hope. Tomorrow in this attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, it will be like entering a different season as they approach the Southern Ocean.

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com

After eight days at sea and a constant battle against the clock, the crew of IDEC SPORT is continuing to dive down the South Atlantic off the coast of Brazil between Salvador da Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.

 

Sailing on a bearing of 180° at 18° latitude S, Francis Joyon and his men are making the most of a 15-knot easterly wind. With the wind on the beam on the port tack at a constant speed of 25 knots, conditions are allowing good speeds and they have regained around fifty miles in the past 24 hours over their virtual rival, the title-holder.

This morning Joyon and his men are around ahundred miles off the pace set by Banque Populaire V and are sailing further east to get round the St.Helena high. This zone is not going to make things easy for them. They are happy to be making gains for now, because the wind is likely to drop off in the next 36 hours. This is due to a ridge of high pressure blocking the way south, meaning it looks like a busy and tricky Christmas.

 

Source : www.idecsport-sailing.com