Francis Joyon receives the new Ultimate Trophy, an honor reserved for the fastest solo sailor on the four major ocean records

From the following press release (in French) on the IDEC website:

http://www.trimaran-idec.com/actualite_article.asp?ID=245

the rough bing translate is below:

FRANCIS JOYON RECEIVES THE ULTIMATE TROPHY

Thursday, October 10, 2013

This Wednesday, October 9, 2013, Francis Joyon has received the ULTIMATE TROPHY, new sports award that honors the fastest sailor on the four major ocean records solo: around the world, North Atlantic, Route de la Découverte and the 24 hour record. The skipper of the maxi-trimaran IDEC is the first to receive this new distinction, true Grand Slam of oceanic sailing single-handed! Award received from the hands of Jean Todt, President of the FIA and Gérard Saillant, President of CMI.

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The repetition of the exploits of Francis Joyon deserves a trophy. The lap record of the world single-handed in 2008, record of 24 hours in 2012, Route de la Découverte and Record of the North Atlantic in 2013: so many great records held by Francis Joyon and which earned him to receive this Wednesday, October 9 the ULTIMATE TROPHY. "I am pleased that this award provides performance that are the result of a long work with the cedi, the ICM, my router Jean-Yves Bernot group, but also of Christophe Houdet, who helped me for escorts," said the skipper of the maxi-trimaran IDEC.

57 days around the world
Lonely sailor the fastest around the world since 2004, he take his property the following year by the British sailor Ellen MacArthur that loops the journey in 71 days and 14 hours - a day of better than Francis. Francis who starts in 2008 and hit a great shot: 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes and 6 seconds! "Around the world is the most difficult record by its duration and traversed areas," he said.
"I had come down very southern areas of iceberg, facing extreme weather conditions. The rise between Cape Horn and Britain also was complicated, with quite a small damage. And despite this demanding course, you had to go quickly, long. This is my most beautiful record, one that leaves me more memories'.

666 miles in 24 hours
The summer 2012, Joyon is tackling a second great record: one of the greatest distance covered in 24 hours, solo. Result: 666.2 miles. "I saw a depression forming in the middle of the Atlantic. I left Brittany join her then I placed on its front. It worked! "The record of 24 hours is as extreme in the sense where you take the very high speed over necessarily muscular conditions.

8 days on the road to Christophe Colomb
In February 2013, Francis Joyon part in the assault of one of his records he feels threatened: the road of discovery, between Cadiz (Spain) and San El Salvador (Bahamas). He explains: "Thomas Coville had a big lead on my time and was poised to improve it. So, I went to take my turn. Meanwhile, Thomas has abandoned and I therefore fought against my own time. Successfully (8 days 16 hours 7 minutes and 5 seconds). In the Route de la Découverte, it takes several fronts, but it also faces calm areas. "Unstable conditions, therefore, and must be able to manage these different weather systems.

Atlantic in 5 days
Last record dated: the North Atlantic, in 5 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds to rally the lighthouse of Ambrose off the coast from New York to the Lizard, to West Cornwall point English. Performance even more remarkable that it has occurred in a particular context. Francis Joyon: 'I had capsized off the coast of New York on the previous attempt. I felt apprehension but I wanted at any price erase this bad memory. There again, it must be constantly very fast, at bottom on settings for the ship file all the time at over 25 knots. It almost does not sleep for five days and it is terraced.

Keep the trophy
Francis Joyon has so far four major records in his pocket. But it is well placed to know that they are by definition made to be broken. As competition sharpens: hardness of Thomas Coville sailors, Armel Le Cléac ' h, François Gabart, or Lionel Lemonchois covet records, and at the same time this Ultimate Trophy. But Francis Joyon is in moves not, quite to the contrary: "I note that my performances have created an emulation that pushes sailors and sponsors to invest. They give themselves the means to beat them with boats bigger, lighter, wider - so faster. But I won't let me do: If one of my records is defeated, I will do everything to get it back! ».

Patrice Lafargue, President of the IDEC group: "I am very proud of this trophy which rewards a great sailor and its history of more than 10 years with the IDEC group. I join all the employees to congratulate these outstanding achievements.

Gérard Saillant, ICM President: "the Ultimate Trophy, is the recognition of achievements repeated a man out of the ordinary and through him to all of a cohesive team. Francis has long shown that the victory was the result of the talent, work and courage, but was not incompatible with legendary faithfulness, generosity, and the discretion that it he knows. Thanks Francis us to dream! »

Reminder of the great four records:
-Record of World Tour: 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes and 6 seconds, February 2008
-Record of the 24 hours: 666,2 miles, July 2012
-Record of the Route de la Découverte (Cádiz - without El Salvador): 8 days 16 hours 7 minutes and 5 seconds, February 2013
-North Atlantic record: 5 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds, June 2013