Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px TOP

Jules Verne Trophy - IDEC Sport down with the ice

by Fabrice Thomazeau on 5 Dec 2015
2015 Jules Verne Trophy - IDEC Sport IDEC Sport
2015 Jules Verne Trophy - After being caught yesterday morning by the low-pressure system, which enabled them to get into the Southern Ocean at high speed, the IDEC Sport maxi trimaran had to gybe, when the front went over and entered a patch of light winds offering low speeds, while they await stronger winds coming down from the north.

Francis Joyon and his crew of five are diving down into the wilderness of the Southern Ocean attempting to slide under the South African high, accompanied by a ridge of high pressure, which is also moving eastwards.

It looks like another sluggish day for Joyon and his troops, who are doing their utmost to make the most of the fifteen knots or so of wind in this area. They have crossed the latitude of 45 degrees south, but Francis aims to go even further down to around 51 or 52 degrees to get around an area of low pressure developing around Madagascar. IDEC Sport is sailing down with the ice, with the risk of encountering icebergs and growlers. The atmosphere on board the boat is changing with the need to take this parameter into account.

At the Cape of Good Hope tomorrow

“The ridge of high pressure is moving along with us and so we are being slowed down.” With his legendary calm, Francis Joyon is accepting this punishment from the elements. “We weren’t able to stay ahead of the front, which could have taken us all the way to the Cape of Good Hope. This low is moving eastwards at more than 35 knots and overtook us. The lads kept hard at it, but we had to gybe behind the front. Since then, we have had to suffer light winds and our speed has dropped right off.” At just over twenty knots heading towards the south-east, the big, red trimaran is not hanging around, but is between 350 and 380 miles off the record pace for the Jules Verne Trophy. Joyon and his crew of five are therefore only likely to enter the Indian Ocean after passing the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas on Saturday morning.

Radar watching for icebergs

Two worries are currently occupying the minds of the men on board. How will they deal with the Indian Ocean, which after the South Atlantic appears to like to complicate matters on this record route, forcing IDEC Sport to go a long way south to get around the low developing around Madagascar. And then, there is the presence of the ice. “It would be the end of the record attempt, if we attempted to go through this low,” explained Marcel van Triest. “Rounding it via the north would extend the voyage and we wouldn’t be certain of gaining any time. So, we have to go underneath it and play around in the ice zone.”

Ice is the word on everyone’s lips. The whole crew mentions it in their discussions, but also talk about it with Marcel van Triest, who regularly receives satellite photos and observations to keep up to date allowing him to pinpoint the icebergs, which have broken off from the Antarctic. They have to keep an eye out for growlers though, as these blocks of ice are just under the surface and cannot be seen on the satellite photos. They can be extremely dangerous for any boat advancing at high speed. “The radar is on all the time,” added Francis, “and we’re watching the drop in the temperature of the water around us, which is currently around five degrees, while peering at what lies ahead of us.” This task has been all the more complicated today because of the persistent mist, which has considerably reduced the visibility.

Mist, light winds, icy waters….

The Jules Verne Trophy is certainly living up to its reputation as an adventure on this 13th day of racing. Francis Joyon, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Bernard Stamm, Gwénolé Gahinet and Boris Herrmann wish to remain focused on getting the boat moving, while keenly looking ahead to entering the Indian Ocean. “There’s a great atmosphere on board,” declared Boris Herrmann. “Bernard Stamm has done a great job with the supplies. He has wisely prepared everything so we get more calories as we get into the Southern Ocean and the colder climes. We’re eating well and sleeping better than in the Tropics. We chat a lot and the boat is magical.” The only thing that is missing for the moment is crossing the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope, not because of the time, but quite simply because Boris will pass around his little flask of whisky that he plans to open at each of the major capes, Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn…
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeSwitch One DesignCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER

Related Articles

Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third.
Posted today at 8:12 pm
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community.
Posted today at 5:13 pm
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom.
Posted today at 3:00 pm
Erica Lush Completes Bermuda 1-2 Regatta First Leg
While training for the Solitaire Du Figaro Rhode Island sailor Erica Lush completed the first leg of the Bermuda 1-2 regatta as the only woman skipper in the fleet. Lush sailed solo from Newport to Bermuda, handling a boat new to her, and rough sea state.
Posted today at 1:30 pm
Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship
Winning this year's event was a very accomplished skipper, Carmen Cowles and her team The biennial running of Noroton Yacht Club's Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship, presented by Fairfield County Bank, just finished a second wild and wooly event, thanks again to Mother Nature.
Posted today at 11:12 am
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality.
Posted today at 4:39 am
2025 GL52 Big Red Regatta overall
Katana prevails, Wizard finished second The 2025 edition of the GL52 Big Red Regatta is now in the books. John Huhn's KATANA continued its winning ways on Day 3 to wrap-up first place overall with just 12 pts.
Posted on 16 Jun
Conrads, Bell win 505 Pacific Coast Championship
A single point victory at Bellingham Yacht Club After three days and 11 races, AJ Conrads and Jon Bell captured the 505 Pacific Coast Championship by one point, narrowly besting former World Champion and Long Beach legend Howie Hamlin and crew Jeff Nelson.
Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups.
Posted on 16 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership.
Posted on 16 Jun