Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Ocean Records - Route du Thé - Hongkong HKG-London GBR - new record for IDEC
This Wednesday morning at 7h UTC, Francis Joyon FRA and his team on their 100-foot trimaran 'IDEC' have crossed the the finish line of the Hongkong to London Tea Route in the new record time of 31 days and 23 hours for the 13'000 mile course. The previous record of the 70-foot trimaran 'Maserati' of Giovanni Soldini ITA has been improved by almost five days. ----- The race tracker and the news.
Rough westwind conditions are prevailing in the final approach to London. Nevertheless, the Maxi-Trimaran 'IDEC' continued to progress at high speeds - 608nm in the last 24 hours - extending the lead on the record to 978nm. With 435nm left this morning UTC, Francis Joyon FRA and his team are on track to finish the record attempt around midnight today. ----- The 
With 625nm in 24 hours and and average speed of 26kn (48 km/h), the Trimaran 'IDEC' is now finally again racing at optimum speeds. 1070nm to London were left this morning UTC and Francis Joyon FRA and his team are expected to cross the finish line is under the Queen-Elizabeth II-Bridge in downtown London in the night of Tuesday to Wednesday in a new record time. ----- The 
On the Acores latitude, the Trimaran 'IDEC' has finally reached the Atlantic Westwind belt during the past night, accelerating on over 30kn. Francis Joyon FRA and his team may arrive in London, 1680nm away, within three days. The 
Still fighting with the lulls this morning UTC, Francis Joyon FRA and his team were again slowed down in the zone between the trade winds and the westwind belt. However, the critical phase should come to an end this afternoon reaching the fresh westwinds for the final stretch to England. ----- The advantage on the record was down on 166nm this morning UTC. ----- The 
Finally blessed by the northern tradewinds, Francis Joyon FRA and his team accelerated again and the small backlog on the record when crossing the Equator was turned into a 266nm lead again this morning UTC. The remaining 2'600nm to London can be covered by the Maxi-Trimaran 'IDEC' within 5 to 6 days, a substantial improvement of the existing time. The 
Yesterday, Francis Joyon FRA finally reached the northern trade winds with his Maxi-Trimaran 'IDEC', regaining speed and allowing to turn the Doldrum backlog on the record into a small 43nm lead by this morning UTC. ----- The 
Bad news for Francis Joyon FRA and his Maxi-Trimaran 'IDEC' as the Doldrums proved to be a real obstacle this year. Back in the Northern Hemisphere now, the multihull is still trailing in calms at speeds around 7kn. No wonder, that the advance on the record is vanishing, and with only 25kn left this morning UTC, the successful record attempt is more and more in doubt. ----- The 
The crossing of the Equator turns out to be very tough for Francis Joyon FRA this time. Only by noon UTC, 'IDEC' will enter the Northern Hemisphere, and to reach the Northern trade winds, another day will remain. The advantage on the record is down on 254nm only. ----- The 
As expected, the Maxi-Trimaran 'IDEC' was considerable decelerated in the Doldrums South of the Equator, and this morning UTC, the speed was down on 9kn only. Consequently, the advance on the record melted on 463nm. ----- The 
