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.
Turning back after only one week into the race has in no way dented the morale or determination of Francis Joyon and his five fellow crewmembers. The Idec Sport team arrived back in Brest on Saturday afternoon, and is now waiting for favorable weather conditions so that it can set off in pursuit of the Jules Verne Trophy once again.
Last Sunday, after a promising start to their race attempt, the crew’s six sailors decided to backtrack after coming across a mighty setback in the Doldrums, which lost them precious hours in their attempt to set a new record on the course. Less than one week later, the crew is back at the port of Brest, once again on stand-by for an encouraging weather window.
Remember that their first attempt, starting on 20 November, wagered on a strategy, jointly concocted by Francis Joyon and Marcel Van Triest, Idec Sport’s router and weatherman. After a difficult departure from Ushant, the team sped to the Bay of Biscay, then along the Moroccan coast. But the Doldrums would finally get the better of Francis Joyon, Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Gwénolé Gahinet, Clément Surtel and Boris Herrmann, forcing them to turn back.
When conditions point their way, the six men will once again attack the record set by Loïck Peyron in 2012 (45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds).
Isabelle Trancoen (article translated from French)
Over the past 48 hours, the crew of IDEC SPORT has been heading home. In the early stage of their attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, Francis Joyon and his crew of five took the decision to abandon their attempt as they reached the Equator after suffering a slowdown in the Doldrums. Francis, Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet and Boris Herrmann are heading for Brest, which they should reach on Sunday to set off again when an opportunity arises. For the moment, off the Cape Verde Islands, as Francis Joyon tell us, the crew of IDEC SPORT are already getting ready to set off again.
What are conditions like as you head back up?
F.J: “Today we have light winds. We are leeward of the Cape Verde Islands and it’s very hot. The sky is very blue and we’re tidying up the boat to do things as efficiently as possible once back in Brest. We are in a transition zone with weakening trade winds. But after this period of calm, we should pick up the winds from a low further north and get back up fairly quickly. We hope to be back in Brest on Sunday morning or on Saturday night, if conditions are really favourable.”
You seem to have gone through the Doldrums which were very active…
“The six of us have been through the Doldrums many times. I remember on one occasion it was fairly violent with severe squalls and winds going from 0 to 40 in just a few moments, but that is rare. This time, in fact, it lasted twenty hours or so before continuing with a long period of calm. In the Doldrums, it’s all a bit mysterious… None of this was forecast on the charts nor by observations. We decided to turn back and go through it again wondering what would hit us this time. But on the way back up it went very quickly in steady winds and we weren’t held up. Astonishing!”
How do you feel 48 hours after that episode? “Today’s Bernard’s birthday. We don’t have all the ingredients for a cake, but we’ll do it one day. The crew is in a good mood again after everyone took it badly. Now, the usual mood has returned. We’re already looking at possible weather opportunities. There don’t seem to be any for the time being, but we’ll be ready. We just have to get a fortnight’s worth of food on board and we can go.”
In full agreement with his crew and Marcel van Triest, his router, Francis Joyon decided this morning to stop his attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy round the world record. He has turned back and is heading for Brest to wait for a more favourable weather opportunity.
Photo Jean Marie Liot / DPPI / IDEC
The Doldrums were particularly active and moving with the IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran preventing Francis Joyon and his men from making it to the South Atlantic low and achieving a decent time to the Cape of Good Hope, and in good stead to beat the record held by Banque Populaire V.
IDEC SPORT is heading back to Brest in Brittany, which Francis Joyon hopes to reach next weekend. He will then begin another stand-by phase for another attempt. “With extremely violent squalls and long periods of calm, I thought about it for a long time before asking Marcel van Triest about whether it was worth continuing our attempt,” explained Francis. “It seems that this unforeseen delay in getting to the Equator, means we won’t be able to hop onto the lows forming off Cape Frio in Brazil. If we continued on our route, we would probably reach the Cape of Good Hope too far behind the record.”
“We’re not giving up. The idea of turning back is always part of this challenge and we had talked about it before the start in Brest last weekend. We shall be heading back into the squalls in the Doldrums and hope to reach Brest next Sunday to go on stand by again.”
After cutting their way through the Atlantic Ocean thanks to very favorable weather conditions before reaching the Cape Verde Islands, Francis Joyon and his team experienced a slowdown on Friday. But the crew remains confident as they continue their way to the Equator.
Twenty-four hours ago, the maxi-trimaran Idec Sport was a little ahead of the record set by Loïck Peyron on Banque Populaire V in 2012. But their passage through the Cape Verde Islands has once again reversed the situation. Put the blame on the wind shadow of two small islands in the archipelago. As a result, Joyon and his five teammates have had to fight their hearts out, with plenty of gybing, to pull away from it. During the night, Idec Sport left Cape Verde behind it, but the stopwatch is no longer ticking in its favor.
As every day brings a new challenge, the six sailors will have the doldrums to deal with next. Also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone, this area preceding the Equator is always dreaded by sailors who fear getting stuck there. The challenge will be to get out quick for Francis Joyon who still hopes to reach the Equator in a decent time. “We’re not aiming for a sensational time to the Equator,” reminds the sailor originating from Eure-et-Loir. “We wish to keep down our lag behind the reference time and are counting on more favorable weather in the South Atlantic to see us through to the Cape of Good Hope.”
The maxi-trimaran Idec Sport is currently advancing at an average of 15 knots or so, well down from the average established yesterday which allowed it to literally chomp up miles. The Equator is less than 500 miles away, and the coming hours will be crucial for the team. It’s clear: getting through in good time would undoubtedly cheer up the six men, allowing them to attack the Southern Hemisphere in the best possible way.
Isabelle Trancoen (article translated from French)
On Thursday, Francis Joyon and his five teammates went past the enchanting Cape Verde Islands after 3 days and 15 hours of sailing. A fine performance given the conditions in which the IDEC crew started out their Jules Verne Trophy attempt on Sunday.
They sailed through the center of a low, with winds ranging from strong to calm. But after 3 days and 15 hours at sea, Francis Joyon, Bernard Stamm, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Alex Pella and Boris Herrmann have been rewarded for their efforts and strategy. The six sailors have covered 2,290 miles at an average of 26.3 knots. An extremely satisfying start to the race because tonight they’re ahead – if only slightly – of the record set by Loïck Peyron in 2012.
Francis Joyon does not hide that the crew had to sweat and toil to gain this advance: “I steered like a madman yesterday, at 35 knots and over. But we haven’t yet exploited the boat’s full potential. The wind was too irregular, in terms of both strength and direction. It was challenging (…) In such conditions, the boat demands so much concentration from the helmsman that it’s necessary to change over after 30 minutes. Conditions really need to be easy to stay more than half an hour at the helm.”
In the space of almost 4 days of racing, the team has managed to test out the maxi-trimaran a little, and the verdict is good. “The boat seems faster,” declares Francis Joyon. “All day today and all day yesterday, under full mainsail and gennaker, we went at 7 to 8 % faster than last year. We’ve learned lessons from our previous attempt, and we’re trying to do better in every domain, including supplies.”
With Cape Verde behind them, the Idec Sport crew is now focusing on its next objective: the Equator. Let’s remember that in 2012, Loïck Peyron, at the helm of Banque Populaire V, crossed this line in 5 days, 14 hours and 55 minutes.
Isabelle Trancoen (article translated from French)
After a somewhat chaotic start in variable weather conditions, Francis Joyon and his five crewmembers picked up their pace and are shooting ahead to the southwest of the Canaries.
Photo Jean Marie Liot / DPPI / IDEC
Before the team’s departure last Sunday, Marcel Van Triest and Francis Joyon formulated a plan, which was meant to start bearing fruit from the Equator onwards. But they didn’t need to wait that far: after three grueling days, the Idec Sport team has established a good position and can finally breathe a little.
“A departure is always very emotional, and this one was brutal,” reported Clément Surtel on Wednesday. “We’re doing well. We’ve avoided much of the wind. The sea is calming down. We’re on track and dealing with a few minor squalls. We’re fighting to get out of the squalls. We’re happy with our average. We need to make a few repairs but nothing serious. We’re just starting to have normal meals – eggs and bacon for me this morning.”
Conditions are improving and the sun has appeared to the delight of the six sailors on board the maxi-trimaran, now heading south at a very decent average of 30 knots. For now, Clément Surtel says that he’s “not paying too much attention to time gaps”. Idec Sport nonetheless has reason to rejoice because it is now only 11 miles behind Loïck Peyron’s 2012 time for this leg.
But while things look positive, Francis Joyon and his team don’t intend to rest on their laurels: the Cape Verde islands stand in their firing line.
When they crossed the start line at Ushant last Sunday, Francis Joyon and his 5 crew members knew one thing: the start of their adventure was not going to be one smooth ride. After nearly 48 hours on a multifaceted sea, offering them both calmness and strong winds, the Idec Sport team has started to get into its stride.
“We were a little shaken up when we went through the center of the low about twelve hours after we left Ushant,” explained Francis Joyon this morning.“We went through many maneuvers that didn’t encourage high speeds, including a dozen or so sail changes. This was exhausting because there are only six of us on this big boat. So we didn’t get much sleep and drew on our reserves.”
The maxi-trimaran is currently heading southwest, sailing off the Moroccan coast. Thanks to strong northeasterly winds, the crew is advancing at a speed of about 28 knots. While they’re 215 miles behind Loïck Peyron’s record, Francis Joyon and his team remain confident about the strategy they have formed with Marcel van Triest, their router and meteorologist. Indeed, the aim is to reach the Equator in a “decent” time, before making it past the Cape of Good Hope in good time.
Remember that in 2012 Loïck Peyron passed the Equator in 5 days, 14 hours and 55 minutes, then the Cape of Good Hope after 11 days.
Isabelle Trancoen (article translated from French)
