This morning UTC just after 7 a.m., François Gabart/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA with their 'Macif' finished as 2nd roughly 32 days underway. Yves Leblevec FRA/Alex Pella ESP on 'Actual' will arrive this morning as well. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
After 'Edmond de Rothschild' having crossed the finish line as first - we reported yesterday - , 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) and 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP) are in the final approach. 530nm before the finish, the two Ultime Trimarans were separated by 48nm only, a duel that will go on to the end of the race. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
Yesterday after almost 29 days underway, 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Franck Cammas/Charles Caudrelier FRA) crossed the finish line off Brest FRA as winners of the inaugural 'Brest-Atlantiques' Regatta. Here the interview. With still 1'100nm to go, the two other Ultime-Trimarans, separated with 80nm, will reach Brest tomorrow. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
Bad luck for Yann Guichard FRA and his 'Spindrift'-Team: Already after two days, the round-the-world record attempt had to be abandoned after arising problems with the steering system. 'Spindrift' is on the way back to La Trinité, and it remains to be seen, whether a repair will be possible within sufficient time. ----- The news.
This morning at 6h UCT, Franck Cammas/Charles Caudrelier FRA together with media-man Yann Riou FRA finished first in the inaugural edition of the Brest-Atlantiques Regatta for Ultime Trimarans. With 734nm in the past 24 hours, the successful team raced again full-throttle. ----- The persuing duo passed the Acores yesterday with 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) 80nm ahead of 'Actual' (Le Blevec FRA/Pella ESP). They are expected in Brest on Saturday morning. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
After 12 days and 20 hours, the Trimaran 'IDEC' of Francis Joyon FRA and his teams reached Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam establishing a first reference time for this route from Mauritsius to Vietnam raced for the first time. The varied journey brought everthing, from high-speed conditons to complete calms. ----- In a few days, the next record attempt, a short race to Shenzen in China, is on the program. ----- The news.
Yesterday evening shortly before 8 p.m. UTC, Yann Guichard FRA and his 12-head-team departed on their 140-Foot Trimaran 'Spindrift 2' off Brittany FRA to attack the absolute round-the-world record for the Jules Verne Trophy. The existing record for the 28'000 nm is 40 days and 23 hours. ----- After a rather slow start in a 15kn breeze, the Ultime-Trimaran is about to reach fresh Northwinds today propelling her to the Equator in 5 days. ----- The news.
Final race day for 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Franck Cammas FRA/Charles Caudrelier FRA together with their media-man Yann Riou FRA) 535nm away from the finish line in Brest this morning UTC. Rushing straight North at speeds above 30, she will arrive this Tuesday evening. ----- The persuing duo has been decelerated and was over 1'500nm (roughly 3 days) behind with 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) 12nm ahead of 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP) this morning. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
Only 500nm - average speed 6,9kn - were covered during the past three almost windless days. This morning UTC, the trimaran 'IDEC' accelerated again in a fresh Northwind and the arrival in Vietnam 273nm away will be early tomorrow UTC. ----- The race tracker and the news.
This evening between 18 and 20h UTC, the Trimaran 'Spindrift' of Yann Guichard FRA and his 12-head-crew will leave the harbour to start to the Jules Verne round-the-world non-stop record attempt off the Isle of Ouessant FRA with the objective to improve the existing record of Francis Joyon FRA of 40 days and 23 hours. ------ The Ultime 140-Foot Trimaran 'Spindrift' was forced to abandon the last record attempts after severe rudder damages off the Kergueles Islands. A thorough revision and tuning was made during the past months and the Trimaran is supposed to be in top conditions. ----- The weather window this week promises a fast ride of 4 to 5 days to the Equator. ----- The news.
On the past Sunday, Phil Sharp GBR with his Class 40 ' OceansLab' established a new Class Round-the-Isle-of-Wight record with 5hrs 5min. He improved the existing record by 84min. With his Class 40, fully equipped with hydrogen fuel-cell technology, he wanted to silently protest against the climate pollution quite visible over the near-by Southampton massively impacted by the exhaust gas of Commercial Shipping. ----- The news.
Ideal conditions on the home stretch for 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Cammas/Caudrelier FRA) ! Sailing on the backside of a depression, she will be riding on a moderate southern stream during the remaining 1'250nm to the finish, ETA Wednesday. 1'000nm behind are 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) and 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP) closely together in a kind of matchracing that might last until the arrival back in Brest. ------ The race tracker, the news and the videos.
Another dull day for Francis Joyon FRA and his team between the Indonesian islands yesterday as only 150nm were covered during 24 hours. Hundreds of fisherman platforms along the coast of Borneo kept the teams alert to avoid unexpected collision. Today, 'IDEC' will finally touch the long-expected north winds on the Chinese Sea, allowing to cover the remainind 550nm in a quick pace. ----- The race tracker and the daily news.
Slowdown during the past 24 hours as the northern trade winds slackened without major influence on the positions of the three Trimarans: With 1'700nm left to Brest FRA, 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Cammas/ Caudrelier FRA) consolidated their leading place almost 700nm in front of 'Macif' (Gabart/ Gahinet FRA) this morning UTC. 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP), another 100nm behind keep an option on rank 2, in the instable weather situation. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
Recreational days for Francis Joyon FRA and his crew on the Trimaran 'IDEC' in the light winds on the Chinese Sea between Sumatra and Borneo. Only 190nm were sailed within the past 24 hours. 700nm were left to the port of call in Vietnam this morning. ----- The race tracker and the news.
Out of the Doldrums and sailing in the northern trade winds, 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Cammas/Caudrelier FRA) already passed the Cape Verdes Islands yesterday extending the lead on the second-ranked 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) to 600nm this morning UTC. Another 70nm behind, 'Actual' (Levlevec FRA/Pella ESP) is accelerating as well. ----- 2'150nm, roughly 4 days, are left to the finish in Brest FRA. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
The wind remained very light for the Maxi-Trimaran 'IDEC' after the passage of the Sumatra-Java strait and only 160nm were sailed by Francis Joyon FRA and his team during the past 24 hours. And today will not be much better ! However, the forecasts predict, that for the final 800nm of the record ride, a depression with fresh Northwinds of up to 40kn will fill in, and a rough up-wind finish has to be expected. ----- The race tracker and the news.
As reported yesterday, 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Cammas/Caudrelier FRA) was crossing the innertropical convergence zone and is this morning UTC already in the northern trade winds, progressing at speeds above 30kn. Her advance on rank two has grown on 635nm. 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP) was still on the 2nd position but the strategic detour to West of 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) seems work out now, as in a fresher breeze and with a more powerful wind angle, she is over 5kn faster as 'Actual' and her backlog was down on 20nm this morning. ----- The race tracker, the news - all teams suffer from the heat - and the videos.
'Edmond de Rothschild' (Cammas/Caudrelier FRA) crossed the Equator this morning UTC entering now the innertropical convergeance zone. Her advantage on 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP), the most easterly boat, was 350nm. 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) gybed finally North trying to catch-up at least the 400nm backlog on rank 2 with a faster ride.----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
After a complete 7 hour standstill on the Indian Ocean - a first for Francis Joyon FRA - the trimaran 'IDEC' regained speed and racing at 30kn again, she will pass the Sumatra-Java strait early tomorrow. Entering the Chinese Sea then, new challenges will await with many small islands and a dense traffic, not only cargo vessels, but including numerous tiny fisherman boats as well, a constant threat for collisions. ----- The race tracker and t hedaily news.
At closing date one month before the start to the 75th Sydney-Hobart Race, the fourth-largest fleet in the history of the race has entered. 164 teams, not only from Australia, but also Great Britain, Ireland, France, China, Hungary, Poland, Hong Kong and USA, will be on the starting lines on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day. The favorites are once more the Super-Maxis 'Wild Oats XI', the multiple winner, challenged by the 100 Footers 'Black Jack', 'Comanche' or 'Infotrack'. ----- The preview.
'Edmond de Rothschild' (Cammas/Caudrelier FRA), having reached the southern trade winds this morning UTC, extended their lead on 400nm in the light and unconstant winds so far over the South Atlantic. 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP) remains on rank 2 while 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) is still on a strategic attack going West, presumably veering North today trying to reduce their backlog - 882nm this morning - in a fast ride in well established trade winds. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
Francis Joyon FRA and his team on their 'IDEC' Maxi Trimaran have regained good speeds in the southern trade winds after 6 days underway direction Vietnam. In about two days, they will pass the strait between Sumatra and Java. ----- The race tracker and the news.
After the successes of the round-bow designs in the Minis and Class 40, Armel Tripon FRA presented as first his Open 60 for the Vendée Globe with a round bow. It remains to be seen whether this will mix up the IMOCA fleet. ----- The news.
Yesterday, 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Cammas/Caudrelier FRA) extended her lead in the stlll moderate and unconstant southern trade winds on 256nm. 'Actual' (Leblevec FRA/Pella ESP) remained on rank 2, while 'Macif' (Gabart/Gahinet FRA) started an attack going West where more favorable conditions seem to prevail. Time will tell whether this strategy pays. ----- The race tracker, the news and the videos.
After two fast days in best sailing conditions, Francis Joyon FRA and his team changed to a more direct course going North again. This morning, IDEC will have to fight its way through a calm zone to reach the trade winds, that should again provide for fast days with optimal wind angles, to pass the strait between Java and Sumatra, the entrance to the Chinese Sea. ----- The race tracker and the daily news.
