New 24 hour record set by Banque Populaire V - 907 miles

by Sail-World.com translation on 1 Aug 2009
An incredible night for the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V, skippered by Pascal Bidégorry and his 11 crewmen, who, in the space of 10 hours beat eight times, the record for the distance covered in 24 hours! With 907 miles covered in 24 hours, Maximum Banque Populaire V is the new holder of the record with an average of 37.79!

Progressing in their attempt at the North Atlantic record since Thursday July 30 00 hours 47 minutes (French hour), the Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V has just acomplished an incredible performance; Pascal Bidégorry and his crew pulverize the record established by Groupama 3 in 2007 and have now established the new distance for référence*.

Also attempting to break the North Atlantic record, Franck Cammas and his crew on Groupama 3 were first to cross the 800 mile barrier earlier today.

However Banque Populaire was also progressing very quickly. At 2:00 (French hour) they posted 827,8 miles at 34.49 and improved on speed and distance nearly every hour. At 5:00, Banque Populaire V posted the distance of 863 miles averaging 35.95 knots. One hour later, 872 miles appeared on the meter, with 46 knots appearing from time to time. At 6:00 they had covered 874,9 miles, averaging 36.45. At 7:00 this morning, the distance of 875.6 miles, averaging 37 knots was recorded. By 8:00, 880 miles had been traversed over the last 24 hours, at a mean velocity of 36.7 knots.

At 11:15 (French hour), Banque Populaire V passed the 900 mile mark and recorded 907 (1680 km) traversed in 24 hours at a mean velocity of 37.79!

This performance must now be approved officially by WSSRC*

The distance to the goal (Cape Lizard) is still 937.8 miles.

*subject to the official homologation by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Council Record), official international agency of homologation of the oceanic records.

** the time of reference for the 24 hour record was held by Franck Cammas on Groupama 3 and set in 2007 at 794 miles and a mean velocity of 33.08.

Translated from the French website of Banque Populaire V - http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/