Jean-Pierre Dicks sets new Route Saint Pierre Lorient transat record
by Robin Clegg 23 Jun 2021 18:15 AEST
22 June 2021
The second annual transatlantic Route Saint Pierre Lorient - Pure Ocean Challenge, with a mission to raise awareness of the threats to ocean health, has set a new record time for the crossing.
Four-times Transat Jacques Vabre winner Jean-Pierre Dick made the crossing in 7 days, 17 hours and 4 minutes, beating his time last year by over 19 hours. The previous record, of over 10 days, was set by French sailing legend Eric Tabarly in 1987.
Jean-Pierre Dick's JP54 - Ville de Nice arrived in the Brittany port on Tuesday 22nd June at 11:23 UTC, having left Saint-Pierre and Miquelon on Monday 14th June. Along the way, the canting keel yacht released two drifter buoys to help increase scientific understanding of ocean health.
Jean-Pierre Dick said: "I am extremely happy to have beaten the record I set last year on a crossing I really enjoy doing in this pearl of the maritime world. We were fortunate that the conditions helped us set a really good time.
"By dropping drifter buoys we are able to help increase scientific knowledge of our oceans and how they are critical to regulating the earth's climate and to supporting biodiversity. The challenge is now on for next year's edition."
Offshore sailor Philippe Paturel, founder and president of Route Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, who co-organised the second edition of the challenge, will be working with David Sussmann, founder of Pure Ocean, on the next edition of the race.
David Sussmann said: "It's great that Jean-Pierre has set a new time for the crossing and is helping Pure Ocean achieve its mission. We will be working to make the challenge a permanent fixture in the sailing calendar, combining sport and science to restore ocean health."
A drifter buoy was deployed in the Labrador Sea, between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans and will contribute to Pure Ocean's science project in the region.
As well as co-organising the Route Saint Pierre Lorient - Pure Ocean Challenge, the marine foundation supports other innovative research projects that contribute to the protection of fragile marine ecosystems and biodiversity whilst also organising events to raise public understanding of the critical situation our ocean faces.
It finances ten global projects including initiatives examining changes in ocean temperature and biodiversity, microplastics in marine life and a Mediterranean project to establish a network of artificial floating reefs produced using 3D printers.
You can find out more about the challenge here.