Francis Joyon received with full honours aboard IDEC maxi-trimaran

by Agence Mer et Media on 5 Apr 2014 In Bordeaux, sailor Francis Joyon was received with full honours aboard the IDEC maxi-trimaran today (Friday 4th April). The Girondins de Bordeaux football team followed by the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr. Alain Juppé welcomed the IDEC trimaran and signed the Sail of Hope. This sail will be crossing the Atlantic to head for Brazil in aid of the ICM in a few days from now. The launch of this new route between France and Brazil is taking shape with a new ocean record soon to be set between Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro. Francis Joyon’s goal is to set the initial reference time.

The maxi trimaran, holder of the outright solo round the world record and her skipper, Francis Joyon did not go unnoticed today (Friday) in Bordeaux. The big red multihull looked very smart moored up at the special pontoon. It was there around lunchtime that IDEC and Francis Joyon received a visit from the Girondins de Bordeaux football team. Like the other ambassadors for this new Friendship Route, such as the French national team, the Girondins footballers signed the Sail of Hope, as did Fabien Barthez, the pole-vaulter from Bordeaux, Romain Mesnil and many other top class sporting personalities, who were present in Bordeaux for the event. Early this afternoon, Francis Joyon climbed back aboard the IDEC maxi trimaran and once again passed under the Chaban-Delmas Bridge making his way out to the Estuary. This symbolic moment marked the end of the protocol for this day of festivities and the start of the official stand-by period for this new Friendship Route.

From this evening (Friday), the real stand-by will begin for Francis Joyon, who will be waiting for the best weather opportunity to set off on this solo voyage to establish an initial reference time between France and Brazil, or more precisely between Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro.

We should add as a reminder that this latest record between Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro aims to be a symbol of the special friendship that links France and Brazil. It brings together ambassadors from both nations – personalities from the world of sport, the arts, as well as from business and the media. They are all united to offer their support to charity organizations, including the ICM, the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute.

For this brand new 5000 mile long route (9200 km) across the Atlantic, the big red trimaran will be flying the Sail of Hope. This headsail was signed in France and will also be signed in Brazil by all the ambassadors from the two countries, who have come together around this project. This sail will then be auctioned in late 2014 at a special gala event in Paris. All of the proceeds will be handed over to charities and to the Brain and Spinal Cord Trimaran IDEC website