Big, Big, Big news! The world’s largest sailing trimaran has sailed around the planet to achieve the most sought after of ocean records – the Jules Verne Trophy. Once again, history has been made, and once again the world record* is back into the hands of the Peyron sailing dynasty. Under the command of Loick Peyron (brother of Bruno, who made the same record in 1994, 2002, and 2005), and through the skill and determination of a very talented crew including Brian Thompson (who earned the record with Steve Fossett in 2004), Banque Populaire V has conquered the world, and sailed non-stop around the globe in a total time of 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds for a new world sailing record  … Pictures and more
Archive for the ‘Sailing’ Category
No matter how much theory there is behind an idea, nothing beats seeing it actually work for real before your own eyes.
This was the case on this day when VESTAS Sailrocket 2 demonstrated that she could get up to speed, albeit modest speed now, from a standing start. The low speed performance of these outright speed sailing boats is often heavily compromised in the quest for pure speed… and true to the ‘rocket’ name, if they can’t get off the launch pad… there is no outer space.
We put a lot of thought into this aspect of the sailing throughout the design and build. Many options were built into VSR2 to help her get started. On our first outings we used nothing… as a reference. Now we are trying out the various options. We were very surprised on this outing at the effectiveness of adding a fixed skeg on the back float. I wasn’t expecting to go quick in the relatively moderate conditions. The minute I eased the sheet and freed up the wing I knew things were working and that she wanted to go.
Once she got going we quickly ran out of room. I left the wing fully eased as speed was not the objective of the day. We had seen something special. The Rocket was flying for the first time. For me this will be one of the most significant days in this radical boats life. The speed will come quickly now although I’m sure we are far from being out of the woods.
En ce 44ème jour de mer, le Maxi Banque Populaire V se trouve au Nord-Ouest de l’anticyclone des Açores à environs 1150 milles de l’arrivée au large de Ouessant. A 8h ce matin, l’avance de Loïck Peyron et son équipage était de 1350 milles par rapport au temps de référence du record du Trophée Jules Verne.
Jules Verne Trophy – Record breaking British sailor, Brian Thompson, is attempting to break the ultimate round the world speed record as helmsman on Banque Populaire V, the world’s largest and fastest racing trimaran skippered by Frenchman Loick Peyron. Thompson is currently on course to smash the record.
Just 42 days ago Loick Peyron, together with his crew of 13, crossed the start line in Brest, France in pursuit of the Jules Verne Trophy, a prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht … More