Banque Populaire has set a new round the world record

by Sail-World on 7 Jan 2012
Banque Populaire V, the 40 metre maxi trimaran, has set a new round the world non-stop sailing record.

She becomes the new holder of the Jules Verne Trophy. She crossed the line just before midnight, sailing at a speed of around 29kts.

Finishing in 25kts winds at Oessant, France, she finished 1648.4nm ahead of the reference point for the previous record holder, Groupama (Franck Cammas). She took approximately 45 days and 13 hours 42minutes and 53 seconds against the previous record of 48 days and 7 hours 44 minutes and 52 seconds. Her 14 strong crew led by outstanding French transoceanic sailor Loick Peyron has reduced the previous record by a massive 2 days and 18 1m 59 secs, with an average speed around the planet of 26.5kts. She covered 29,000 nm in her circumnavigation.

Loick Peyron, along with brother Bruno Peyron, head up the Energy Team, who are entered for the 2013 America's Cup.

Banque Populaire departed on November 22nd at 09:31:42 Paris time (08:31:42 GMT), after having crossed the imaginary line between Ushant (Finistère-France) and Lizard Point (southern tip of England), the Maxi Banque Populaire V crossed the finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy at 23:14:35 Paris time (22:14:35 GMT) this Friday. She undertook this sailing around the world in 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds days at an average speed of 26.51 knots, covering a total distance of 29 002 miles.

Launched in August 2008 in Lorient (Morbihan-France),the giant trimaran holding the colours of Banque Populaire has also established several referenced time on various records officially listed by the WSSRC for her first world tour:

Equator / Equator record in 32 days, 11 hours, 51 minutes and 30 seconds

Indian Ocean crossing record (Cape Agulhas / South of Tasmania) in 8 days 7 hours 22 minutes and 15 seconds

Under the leadership of the skipper Loïck Peyron, her crew comprised: Thierry Chabagny, Florent Chastel, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, Kevin Escoffier, Emmanuel Le Borgne, Frédéric Le Peutrec, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Ronan Lucas, Pierre-Yves Moreau, Yvan Ravussin, Xavier Revil, Brian Thompson, Juan Vila and onshore router Marcel van Triest.

Loïck Peyron, skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire V spoke after crossing the finishing point: The feeling from the guys onboard : Emotion and Happiness ! We have filled a good part of the contract! We will now appreciate our victory between us and will return in Brest tomorrow morning to share this beautiful story with everyone. Our memories are full of wonderful images: the departure, icebergs, albatrosses, the Kerguelen Islands... When you sail around the world in 45 days, you see many things. The only one we did not get is Cape Horn but this frustration is quickly forgotten with the record we now have in hands. We are very proud !

Brian Thompson : 'Everyone is really excited on board and we are looking forward to seeing everybody tomorrow morning. This has been an incredible trip around the planet, almost a dream ride. And that is because of the quality of the boat, of the preparation and most of all to the incredible crew on board. I am very fortunate to have sailed with Loïck, the best all round multihull sailor there is, and the rest of the team that are so talented, industrious, dedicated, fun and welcoming to an English guy with schoolboy French! It feels absolutely fantastic. At the same time, to become the first Briton to sail around the world non-stop 4 times, is just amazing and feels very special'

Details of the Jules Verne provisional record *

Start date and time : November 22nd 2011 at 09:31:42 Paris time (08:31:42 GMT)
Arrival date and time at Ushant: January 6th 2012 at 23:14:35 Paris time (22:14:35 GMT)

Distance: 29 002 miles

Average speed : 26.51 knots

New reference time on the Jules Verne Trophy* : 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds
Time difference with Groupama 3’s record in 2010: 2 days 18 hours 1 minute and 59 seconds
* Under the WSSRC approval (World Sailing Speed ??Record Council).

Loïck Peyron and his crew are expected at the Marina du Château, quai Jean-Francois La Perouse in Brest (France) at around 10:30am this Saturday, January 7th.