Banque Populaire VII renamed Lending Club for a Summer season of record breaking

It's no secret that Francis Joyon is going to take over Banque Populaire VII as the new IDEC trimaran but in the interim the maxi trimaran is on charter to Lending Club sailing to embark on a program of record breaking over the Summer.  Renaud Leplanche and Ryan Breymaier are refitting the original large rig and have an ambitious program of records to attempt to improve.

From the following article by the editor, Sailing Scuttlebutt:

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/03/01/new-record-breaking-program-launched/

(March 1, 2015) – Renaud Laplanche (FRA) and Ryan Breymaier (USA) team up for a brand new ocean racing and record breaking program starting in 2015 with the VPLP-designed 105ft maxi trimaran LENDING CLUB 2.

Renaud and Ryan met for the first time racing on John Sangmeister’s 77ft trimaran ‘Tritium Racing’, renamed “Lending Club” for the 2013 Transpac race to Hawaii where they won the race but missed the course record by just two hours.

On discovering a common vision of sailing and ocean racing, discussions ensued between the two and before departing Hawaii, they both knew they would be back together for the long term.

Throughout 2014 they worked on putting together a program that would make 2015 a record-breaking year.

Ryan was tasked with sourcing a boat and with Renaud’s support and advice they negotiated the charter of 105ft Banque Populaire VII (launched in 2006 as Groupama 3) from its new owner for the 2015 summer season.

read more here

You can also follow the teams progress on their facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/LendingClubSailing