Francois Gabart on Ultime trimaran Macif to challenge reference time on the Mediterranean record route

From the following article on Yachts and Yachting:

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/192115

François Gabart will leave at the end of the week for a delivery with crew to La Ciotat, where he will attempt the Mediterranean record single-handed in early October.

This summer, the trimaran remained moored to its berth, where it was dismasted, to repair the masthead. For the technical team, this was also an opportunity to check all the rigging. They also worked hard to finalise the installation of optical fibres on the appendages (rudders, foils, and centreboard). These will provide valuable information about their behaviour: "The optical fibres will provide us with data on the distortions and strain on the appendages. This will be sent directly to the multihull's computer", explains Antoine Gautier, the engineering office manager. This real-time data will now enable the skipper to preserve the appendages if needed. At the same time they will be studied onshore for the purpose of optimisation.

read more here

Route du Rhum update, Multi50 podium complete

A number of updates on the Route du Rhum website with Erwan Le Roux taking first in the class on FenetreA Cardinal:

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=896

Lalou Roucayrol came in second on the Multi50 Arkema:

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=916

Gilles Lamire on Rennes Metropole St Malo Agglomeration came in third with the Multi50 Actual of Yves Le Blevec nipping at his heels. 

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=942

Yves Le Blevec was forced to make a technical stop in Cascais to repair his wind sensor instruments which left him playing catch up for the rest of the race:

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=943

Route du Rhum update, Loick leads the Ultime fleet in impressive fashion

 Loick is doing well out the front of the fleet, BPVII is a more wieldy boat from a solo perspective than Spindrift 2 but if Yann can get some more stable weather he might be able to exploit the power of the boat a little better. The big story for me is how well Sebastian Josse is doing on the modified MOD70 Edmond de Rothschild he is punching well above his weight to hold onto a solid third in the Ultime class.

In the Multi50's some strategic positioning by Lalou Roucayrol on Arkema has seen him take the lead. Lalou's early strategy saw him go for a more Westerly route initially and has given him sea room and kept him out of the worst seastates that the boats went inshore had to deal with. Team Actual has to drop into Cascais for repairs to their wind instruments which will allow FenetreA Cardinal to sneak away into a more solid second place.

In the Rhum Class Route du Rhum veteran Anne Casaneuve is the leading multihull second behind the powerful canting keel monohull Vento di Sardegna.

The Route du Rhum news coverage and tracker is excellent so I will just give a summary each day and wont attempt to repost all the news here best to just visit the Route du Rhum website for full updates:

http://www.routedurhum.com


Jour 2 : rock'n roll ... by routedurhum

Team Lalou Multi50 update, Lalou on the his training program for the Route du Rhum

Another nice video from the Team Lalou Multi50 team on Lalou Roucayrol's training for the Route du Rhum (English subtitles):

Armel le Cleac'h seriously injures hand and will be unable to compete in the upcoming Route du Rhum on maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII

From the following press release (in French) by the Banque Populaire team:

 

http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/Armel-Le-Cleac-h/ARMEL-LE-CLEAC-H-FORFAIT-POUR-LA-ROUTE-DU-RHUM-10133.html

 

The rough bing translate is below:

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 4:30 pm

Armel Le Cléac ' h, skipper of the Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII, was an opportunity for the 10th

edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe November 2. It was unfortunately injured severely to the right hand, which prevented him from taking the start and forced him to forfeit.

Victim of an accident, Armel is seriously wounded in the right hand. Consulted doctors have issued a negative opinion to its participation in the next Route du Rhum. The skipper of the Bank of the sail will use the coming months to recover and be able to browse again with all his faculties as soon as the water of the new monohull Banque Populaire.

This accident does not call into question the presence of Banque Populaire on the starting line of the 10th edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe November 2. Indeed, the Bank of the sail, with the help of Armel, makes every effort to quickly designate a skipper for this test.
Armel Le Cléac ' h, skipper of the Maxi Bank Populaire VII:

"It's a terrible disappointment to have had this accident. We were well prepared for this Route du Rhum, I felt ready for this challenge, but it is like that... Now, let's focus on healing so I find all my abilities and that I am ready for the program with the new monohull Banque Populaire which will be put in the water. This will be my new goal for the coming months. »

 

Banque Populaire VII © Yvan Zedda

 

Yann Elies set to compete in Route du Rhum sailing the Paprec recycling MOD70

From the following article (in French) on lettelgrame.fr:

http://www.letelegramme.fr/voile/un-rhum-en-mod-pour-elies-30-07-2014-10279849.php

And the rough bing translate below:

At the age of 40, Yann Eliès will play its first Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe on a multi of 70 feet: a childhood dream.

Yann Eliès will be at the start of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe November 2 to Saint-Malo. For its first participation, the Costarmoricain will leave in the ultimate class, at the helm of the Mod70 «Paprec recycling».

It was a third win in a row on the Solitaire du Figaro but a Dismasting in the first step has deprived it. Far from giving up, he was offered the luxury to win the second and animate in large part the third to finish second at less than thirty seconds of the first. But then, Yann Eliès (40 years) past at the higher speed. The Costarmoricain will be at the start of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe at the helm of the Mod70 «Paprec recycling».

"No time to ruminate about my disappointment.

Jean-Pierre Dick had already announced that he came on the Mod70 circuit to make round the world crew but not to make the solo. It prefers to devote himself to his Imoca project. "I had heard that he sought a skipper for the Route du Rhum, I tabled a folder. They reminded me during the stage to les Sables D'olonne. While returning from the Solitaire, there was more than three. I did an interview and they caught me. At the time, I did not have time to mull over my disappointment on the Solitaire. And maybe at the least, it will be used to it. To convince a businessman", he says. Indeed, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, CEO of Paprec, Jean-Pierre Dick and the team have therefore chosen to entrust the helm of the trimaran to the double winner of the Solitaire (2012, 2013). "I had envisioned from on Thomas Coville multi or Class40 but it did not do", who last year won the Transat Jacques Vabre on Multi50 of Erwan Le Roux continues. 'When you give me such a boat bar, I won't let go', he confided on the pontoons of the Solitaire du Figaro.

"The good cursor between stress and risk taking.

There, he will go on an another multi, single, and as he says, it will perhaps not evil because the Mod70, designed for the crew, are pretty fickle boats: "I made my first navigation aboard the Mod70 ten days ago in crew. It is necessary that I find my bearings on this boat. Had warned me that it could be quite deceitful. That he tended to quickly lift the leg. It is also physical and an Imoca boat but in addition, there is no the right error. Capsized by the side is possible,"said Yann Eliès, who departed yesterday for a new night at sea in false solitaire. It will be edge on board with "Edmond de Rothschild' to Sébastien Josse. "When you are sheltered under the CAP, does realizes not well of the base of the vessel. It is necessary that we are working on antichavirages systems that I have on board. The release of before sailing with mainsail system. I have to go in having confidence to be able to relax from time to time". After a small Shipyard in order to lighten the boat and change some things for comfort in solitaire, Yann Eliès will perform his qualification in September. November 2 will arrive soon. "You shall not live win with these fickle boats. '' Already will need to reach the other side without turning back. Then, why not play the third step of the podium. "There will be a match in the match with other multis 70 foot», announces, lucid. It's a big challenge but it is also a very good opportunity for the sailor now installed in the Morbihan. "In the life of a sailor, there are the Vendée Globe, the Route du Rhum and later around the world single-handed on a maxi-multi. But then, I am proud to participate in this kind of committed adventure. Need to find the right rhythm, put the cursor in the right place between stress and risk taking. The key will certainly be anticipation. But whatever happens, Yann Eliès will perform a new childhood dream.

Armel le Cleach to return to Lorient with maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII after no good weather windows present for solo North Atlantic record attempt

From the following press releas (in French) by the Banque Populaire team:

http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/Armel-Le-Cleac-h/Le-Maxi-Solo-Banque-Populaire-VII-rentre-en-France-10119.html#suite

The rough bing translate is below:

The Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII returned to France

 

Friday, July 25, 2014 - 16 h 20

 

100 days before the start of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe *, Armel Le Cléac ' h puts an end to its stand started soon 2 months ago. The Maxi Trimaran Solo Bank Populaire VII should leave New York on the night of Saturday to Sunday, to its home port of Lorient, not in record configuration but in delivery of training for the next edition of the Route du Rhum. The skipper of The Bank of the sail and its router Marcel van Triest kept since the 2nd of June the evolution of weather conditions on the route between the metropolis American and the Lizard, looking for favorable conditions to hope to beat the Record of North Atlantic single-handed. An anticyclone settled on the course, added to the exceptionally low position ice South of Newfoundland have never allowed the meeting of the factors necessary to hope to beat the 5 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes, 10 seconds set in 2013 by Francis Joyon on his maxi trimaran Idec. Armel le Cléac ' h, faithful to its roadmap for the 2014 season, will start on the Atlantic for his fourth crossing of the year. After its two lounges in crew and his road to the victorious discovery single-handed, the skipper of the Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII will join Britain with only Companion browser Gildas Morvan, which function on board as often as possible will be limited to observer and Advisor.

"We we were given the end of July as the date deadline of our stand-by in New York" explains Armel; "Marcel van Triest confirms me that no prospect emerges for the next 8 days. So, it's time for me to bring back the maxi trimaran at its home port of Lorient, to adhere to our timetable for preparation in the Route du Rhum. Three weeks of construction are indeed scheduled in August, in order to submit the boat a deep check of all, following his four lounges of the year. I want to sail intensively since the early days of September from the perspective of my priority goal, the 10th edition of the Route du Rhum. Since nearly two months that we monitor the evolution of the weather on the Atlantic phenomena, nothing really serious only has been proposed, and the presence of icebergs in the South of Newfoundland would have us forced to seriously extend the road. I leave New York without regret because the conditions to sign a time are not available to us. This new crossing of the Atlantic, however, will allow me to continue my training solo aboard Bank Populaire VII. I look forward to my brands. Gildas Morvan will be onboard to help me in difficult situations, but it will be before an observer and it is only that I will complete the heavier manoeuvres, living according to possible nearest rhythm solitaire."

 

read more here

Prince de Bretagne team relaunch the Maxi 80 trimaran

The Maxi 80 trimaran has been relaunched after an extensive rebuilding program that has been conducted at the teams Lorient base.  The full rebuild was required after a capsize of the trimaran while pursuing the record route "The Mauritian" the reference time having been set by Francis Joyon.  The new mast has been constructed by Lorima and their facebook page has some good photos courtesy of sealaunay showing the relaunch:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=820443751323182&id=160592717308292

 

 

Sodebo team, video of the first test sail of the new Sodebo Ultime

Sodebo Voile - Thomas Coville : Premières... by sodebo-voile

Francis Joyon's new record route Bordeaux to Rio/Friendship Route (Route de l ´ Amitié) added to benchmark times by the WSSRC

John Reed of the World Speed Sailing Record Council has announced the establishment of a new world record for the 'Friendship Route' set by Francis Joyon on the maxi trimaran IDECII:

http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/

The World Speed Sailing Record Council has announced Performance Certificate No. 46 for the the establishment of the benchmark time on a new route.

Performance: Singlehanded Bordeaux to Rio de Janeiro.

Yacht: 'IDEC' 98ft Tri

Name: Francis Joyon. FRA

Dates: 8th to the 21st April 2014

Start time: 14;33;00 UTC on 08/04/14

Finish time: 17;38;19 UTC on 21/04/14

Elapsed time: 13 days, three hours, five minutes and 19 seconds

Distance: 4812NM

Average speed: 15.27 kts

'Arrivée du trimaran IDEC à Rio de Janeiro - Finish of the Friendship Route'    Andre Pentax / Trimaran IDEC

Spindrift Racing update, Episode 6 of the video series 40 metres solo examines the installation of a bike on Spindrift 2 to supplement hand grinders

Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII back in Lorient

From a recent entry on the Banque Populaire FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/VoileBanquePopulaire

The rough bing translate:

The Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII arrived at Lorient last night after a ferry 2 days. Technical team is working now to check full boat while that Armel will take the opportunity to take a bit of rest before new goals in June... #VoileBP

Thomas Coville abandons round the world solo record attempt with unfavourable weather conditions placing him out of contention

Here is their latest press release (in French). Too bad for Thomas hopefully he might take another swing at it with the reinvigorated Geronimo.

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/bord-sodebo-thomas-coville-fait-demi-tour

 The rough bing translate:

2013 14-Round the world

30/01/2014

Aboard Sodebo, Thomas Coville turns

The upcoming weather situation, the backlog and routings that do fall below the Kerguelen in the ice some 300 miles from the Antarctic lead competitor Thomas Coville, in agreement with its partner Sodebo, to renounce his record attempt around the world single-handed in a multihull. The maxi-trimaran returned to her home port of La Trinité-sur-Mer.

Started from Ushant January 17 at 7:42 (HF), the skipper had crossed the equator in 6 days 20 hours, a time in its objectives. "Window last chance, it descended to the equator in a manner far from ridiculous. I knew the key was going to be Helena," explained this evening the skipper.

Since he sailed in the southern hemisphere, the weather was not conducive to speed. Struggling since Monday with a particularly far-reaching St. Helena high between South America and Africa, Thomas lagging since this morning over 1000 miles on the holder Francis Joyon.

This afternoon, while sailing to the close in 15 knots of wind at 2,000 miles from the Cape of good hope, a new brake kick announced within the next 36 hours with the circumvention of a zone of calm involving considerably lengthen the road. The reading of the last routing, Sodebo delayed to its entry into the Indian Ocean would be 600 miles, or about three days at sea.

The shore crew which analyzes weather for Thomas from files of weather France and CLS, observes a new zone of light winds and the presence of ice in the Indian. The proposed theoretical route would go down Thomas by 60 degrees South, or 300 miles north of Antarctica.

The risks, both in terms of sporting performance and in terms of security, run counter to what look for the skipper and his partner.

Thomas, reached by telephone this evening by his team on land: