Jules Verne Trophy – Back in the trade winds and they're off again

by IDEC Sport Sailing on 22 Jan 2017 Yesterday, IDEC Sport managed to leave the Doldrums stretching out several hundred miles behind them. Taking a bold route, but which has paid off out to the west, Francis Joyon and his men, who were never entirely stopped have now overcome the final weather hurdle in their round the world voyage. Speeds are now set to build as they get closer to the coast of Brittany with powerful downwind sailing ahead thanks to an area of low pressure, which should push them towards the finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy in around four days from now.

This morning after 37 days at sea since leaving Brest, the crew on IDEC Sport is back up to steady speeds of 26-28 knots, allowing them to stepup the pace upwind in the ENE’ly trade winds. Approaching the latitude of the cape Vered Islands, therea re now 2700 miles left to sail, so this is the home strait and everything is looking good. “This past week seems to have been never-ending, because of the low speeds. We were no longer used to normal speeds,” said Sébastien Audigane. “Fortunately, we’re off again now. We’ll soon be sailing downwind in strong winds and it looks like being a quick run to Ushant. We’re fully motivated,” he added. So the final dash is set to be sailed at high speeds as they make their way towards Brittany.