Orange II smashes round the world record

by Event media on 17 Mar 2005 Orange II and Bruno Peyron’s crew have just set a new round the world record of 50 days, 16 hr 20 min and 4 sec, achieving an average speed of 22.2 knots, ahead of Cheyenne (Steve Fossett), the previous outright record holder.

Orange II shaved 7 days 17hr 12 min 41sec from Fossett’s record of last year and ahead of Geronimo (Olivier de Kersauson), the previous Jules Verne Trophy holder, by 12 days 21 hr 39 min 42 sec.

Mission accomplished! By crossing the finishing line off the Island of Ushant in the dark of night, under clear skies at 02.23 GMT this morning, Peyron and his 13-man crew have just achieved a remarkable performance.

No one on board would have dared to imagine when they set out at 10.03 on Monday 24th January that they would achieve such a record.

The Orange II maxi-catamaran, launched on Monday 22nd December 2003, having already smashed the 24 hour sailing record (706.20 miles) and the Mediterranean record (Marseilles/Carthage) last summer, has just added this supreme challenge to her list of successes.

This catamaran has a fine future ahead of her. However, this morning, they were not talking about the future, but simply celebrating their achievement before heading into Brest docks to moor at the Quai Malbert, where Orange II is expected later this morning at around 09.30 GMT.

As she crossed the finishing line travelling at 28 knots, just 0.5 miles from the coast, the south-south-westerly wind was blowing at 25/27 knots.

‘We tried to get it just right, as we have done throughout the journey,’ Peyron said, with some real emotion in his voice.

During the radio report just after crossing the finishing line, Peyron commented, ‘it’s more emotion than joy. It corresponds to the long hard slog. So there’s no explosion. It’s intense, violent, just like this round the world voyage.

‘I really love this night, and we’re going to try to make the most of it. Everyone is out on deck, and I don’t think we’ll be sleeping much before we get back on dry land, even if we haven’t really made any plans.

‘This is a genuine record, which is beyond dispute. The boat is certainly a classy creation and was handled by a superb crew. We’ll have plenty of time to talk about it again.’

Olivier de Kersauson, the chairman and former holder of the Jules Verne Trophy, congratulated Peyron and his crew on their fabulous performance around the world.

‘The hurdle of fifty days is now within reach, showing the huge amount of progress that our sport makes each year. No other racing sport can claim to have made this progress, as each new generation of boat pushes back the limits still further.

‘The Jules Verne Trophy remains the outright reference for human and technological commitment, and Peyron has just added a new chapter, his third, to its history,’ he said.

Major moments:

- The best day: 6894 miles, 6th February, going down the South Atlantic.

– The worst day: 166 miles, on 9th March, off Cape Verde.

- Number of days above 600 miles: 12

– Maximum lead over Cheyenne’s time: 10 days, on 3rd March

– Three new intermediary records in the process of being certified by the World Speed Sailing Record Council (WSSRC) 2005 /2008 : best time from the Equator to the Equator and the fastest crossings of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Website: http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com

*Amended by Sail-World