Thomas Coville smashes round the world solo multihull record.

Thomas Coville has improved the solo multihull record previously held by Francis Joyon by more than eight days!  The new record is 49 days, 3 hours, 7 minutes and 38 seconds (yet to be ratified).  The record was set on Coville's latest trimaran Sodebo Ultime.  Sodebo Ultime was built reusing some parts of the Original Geronimo the original crossbeams reused and strengthened combined with new fronts on the floats and a completely new main hull.

There is more information in this article by Scuttlebutt Sailing news:

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2016/12/25/thomas-coville-sets-new-solo-round-world-record/

Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultime breaks current solo multihull record from Ushant to the equator on Sodebo Ultime

Thomas Coville on the maxi trimaran Sodebo has made it to the equator in 5 days, 17 hours and 15 minutes (yet to be ratified) improving on the current solo multihull record held by Francis Joyon of 6 days, 16 hours 24 minutes.  What makes it even more impressive is that the new record is only marginally slower than the record set by Banque Populaire V in its fully crewed format that took 5 days, 14 hours and 52 minutes to cover the same segment.

https://www.sodebo.com/fr/voile/actualites/article/ouessant-equateur-nouveau-temps-reference-solitaire-nouveau-record-pour-thomas-coville

Thomas Coville sets out to attempt to break the solo round the world non stop record

Thomas Coville has departed on his solo round the world non stop record attempt.  Thomas Coville has upgraded from his previous Nigel Iren's designed trimaran with a new Ultime trimaran that carries over some parts (suitably modified for their new role) of the former maxi trimaran Geronimo. To improve the record that Francis Joyon, on the trimaran IDEC, set of 57 days 13 hours and 34 minutes, he will have to finish by Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 04:22:57

There is an article on Sailing Scuttlebutt here:

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2016/11/06/coville-starts-solo-record-attempt/

and the tracker for the attempt is here:

http://tour-du-monde.sodebo.com/

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:

Thomas Coville on the maxi trimaran Sodebo crosses the equator in less than 7 days on his round the world solo record attempt

From the following press release (in French) on the sodebo maxi trimaran website:

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/sodebo-franchi-equateur-moins-7-jours

and the rough bing translate below:

24/01/2014

Sodebo crossed the equator in less than 7 days!

First contract completed for Thomas Coville, who cut the virtual border between the two hemispheres that night to 4 h 01 ' 50 (French time). As it was the skipper who tackles record around the world single-handed, Sodebo passes under 7 days for this first part of course. Party of Ouessant Friday last at 7 h 42'44 ", the maxi-trimaran crossed the equator in 6 days, 20 hours, 19 minutes and 6 seconds after having travelled on the bottom from the start 3538 miles with the average speed of 21.5 knots. On the direct route, the ship conducted 3018 miles to 18.4 knots. Thomas is better than on these first three attempts. With only 3 hours and 16 minutes behind the record holder Francis Joyon who had 6 days and 16 hours and 58 minutes in 2007, the 'challenger' Coville is well in the match!

Thomas Bravo and bravo to its routers, Jean-Luc Nélias, Thierry Douillard, and Thierry Briend who knew how to get the most out of a window far from easy. With a start to the close in muscular conditions, the game is not announced simple for Sodebo who had several weather transitions to negotiate before touching fast conditions.

A passage from light winds in the Bay of Biscay, a shot of dog throughout Portugal, a first quick 'run' under Madeira before squalls in the Canary Islands, Thomas has given a lot on these first three days. He was then awarded by three days of pure gliding. Yesterday, slowdowns of the 'Pot - le-Noir' had expected, allowing the skipper to win quickly towards the equator. Since the beginning of the afternoon, the Speedo has nevertheless slowed without ever stopping for as much. This morning, happened in the southern hemisphere at 12.3 knots for an average speed of 14.3 knots over the last 24 hours.

A peeling scores of the night, imagine however the efforts made by the skipper to adapt the wing of his boats to the horrors of the 'pot'. The Trinitain was not the only one to activate as a handsome devil to move his trimaran since Lionel Lemonchois who carries out Port Louis (France) - Port Louis (Mauritius), another record of Francis Joyon, plunged South 3 h 15 minutes before Thomas.

And already, a new chapter opens for these solitaires that must definitively out of the 'Pot - le-Noir' and then fetch the southeast trade winds before the St. Helena anticyclone which seems well spread on the road. Follow...

In the meantime, to find Thomas at 1400 hours on sodebo.fr/sail



Photo Yvan Zedda/Sodebo

Sodebo maxi trimaran, Thomas Coville trailing IDEC's ghost but charging hard to get back into contention

From the following article on Sail Racing Magazine:

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/editors-blog/coville-chasing-joyons-ghost-hard-on-fifth-day-of-record-attempt

Since setting off five days ago on an attempt to break the single handed multihull round the world record, French sailor Thomas Coville has been forced to chase the shadow of the record holder - fellow Frenchman Francis Joyon. 

Coville’s maxi-triamaran Sodebo crossed the official starting line near the French island of Ushant off the Brittany coast shortly before 0800 local time on Friday.

However, after just over four and a half days of sailing in the North Atlantic Coville’s maxi trimaran Sodebo trails the ghost track of Joyon’s sister tri IDEC by just under 138 miles.

Coville has the hammer down however - averaging 27 knots+ and closing fast on IDEC’s record pace.

read more here

 

Sodebo Maxi trimaran update, Thomas Coville to pass Madeira tonight on his round the world solo record attempt

From the following press release (in Fremch) on the Sodebo Voile website:

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/madere-soir

and the rough bing translate below:

Madeira tonight

The maxi-trimaran Sodebo departed Brest two days ago and a half. He was already on the latitude of Gibraltar this morning and will double Madeira tonight. Thomas Coville has succeeded brilliantly the first hurdle of this sail solo around the world. The headwinds, nor the succession of systems depressional unstable prevented the skipper of cavaler South and to be already back up to Francis Joyon, virtual opponent.

A frantic pace

Since his departure, the skipper has constantly maneuver to keep the schedule of this atypical round defined with its routers. In applied student, Sodebo broke this morning the first 1000 miles of his journey. Last night was yet rough along the Portugal with 40 knots in squalls but with an angle of announced more favourable wind. The breeze and the sea have aligned themselves with measure, which helped the skipper to lengthen the stride and maintain speeds above 22 knots.

The exit of the tunnel
"The hard part is behind us," lance Thierry Briend in binding permanently with the sailor. "In the morning, the wind fell below 25 nodes in a North-North West, forcing Thomas to canvas. Sodebo will come out gradually this low-pressure system and wind will continue to engage (turn right)" the dullness should finally fade and the skipper will finally be milder temperatures. "

Place downwind

 The time is in the slips under small then large gennaker for the first time in this round the world! Solitaire can finally relax a little before negotiating the passage in the evening in the West of Madeira. "Sodebo slides along the curvature of the anticyclone of the Azores," continues Thierry. "After Madeira, he will cross off the coast of the Canary Islands tomorrow evening, pushed by the beginnings of the Ne'ly Tradewinds."

Wednesday, he should pass off the coast of Dakar and let the islands of Cape Verde in its wake for his sixth day of navigation, there where a cruise ship would put several weeks!

Thomas Coville and maxi trimaran Sodebo, boat repaired but team back on standby as weather window closes

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

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/fenetre-referme-pour-sodebo

and the rough bing translate below:

18/11/2013

After the analysis of files Monday morning, Sodebo routers observe a net deterioration in the weather situation which allows more to rally Ecuador in seven days. Shifting to the South, the anticyclone of the Azores is installed on the Canary, barring the road of the maxi-trimaran and pounding the Tradewind. From Brest where he stood ready to start today's round the world singlehanded record, Thomas Coville must resign. The skipper who has until January 15 to soar, remains on stand-by waiting for a good next niche. Technical team has completed all repairs due to the occurred damage Wednesday last off the coast of Cape Finisterre. Thomas was then sailing at high speed with the bows pointing South. Back at the pontoon of the Brest Castle Marina, Thomas recalls the complexity of these departures in records, even though it is, this morning, "also looking forward as a youngster."

 

"These starting situations are among the most difficult to manage in the records, things" said the skipper who since 2005 has tackled successfully in the great time of reference to sailing. "The window that was open is closed. The team worked 24 hours a day so that the boat is ready to go again. But this morning, by analyzing the 6/7 day forecasts, it means our horizon up to the equator, there is that the anticyclone of the Azores settled on the Canary Islands and we mouth the road. From Madeira, there is more wind, is no longer an acceptable window. We are on November 18, therefore always early in the season but I feel also impatient that a youngster who has very want to leave!"

 

 

Thomas Coville prepares to restart round the world attempt on Sodebo maxi trimaran next likely weather window on the 18th of November

Thomas Coville is going for a restart of his round the world record attempt after gear failure and a damaged pulpit forced his return to port.  A likely departure time is on the 18th of November.

The original article (in French) is here:

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/retour-express-depart-imminent

The rough bing translate is below:

Express return and departure imminent

 

Four days after his departure from Ushant in an attempt to beat the record of the round the world single-handed, Sodebo returned to Brest today, Saturday 16 November to 15 hours. Victim Wednesday of damage aboard his trimaran, the skipper decided to forego this attempt for safety. After 28 hours of sea, Thomas Coville then turned to Brittany. Just arrived, the skipper is already preparing to leave. A favorable weather window looming, leaving consider a possible start Monday 18 November evening. The race against the clock of the technical team began. As early as Sunday, the trimaran will be found 100% of its potential, ready to resume offshore.

Since hunting records, the skipper of Sodebo knows the requirement for the exercise. Starting early in the season, is to let the opportunity to return to the stand if necessary giving the chance to leave in good conditions. "When the balcony is snatched two days ago, we asked with my routers if there was still time to go repair to leave safely," says Thomas back to dock. 'As we were only at Cape Finisterre (North-Western tip of the Spain), the decision to return itself. The interest to be gone early in the season can also be able to manage these risks. »
 
Back in the saddleIf the weather forecasts, this return to the fold could be short-lived. Routing team, headed by Jean-Luc Nélias, observes a new window that could be opened Monday. "There, soon, nearing it from 18 in the evening," said the skipper. "The weather seems favourable. The departure of Ushant and the crossing of the Bay of Biscay would be even more aggressive. I'm in the game and I want to return it immediately to stay in action. »

Against the clockThe trimaran was barely secured than men of the Shadows ' took things in hand. As a F1 in his paddock, Sodebo team technicians will fourmiller overnight to reassemble a new balcony and eradicate all small collateral damage. "Last night they told me that they prefer to be in their place as mine but there, you reverse the roles," says the Trinitain before to pay tribute to his boat. I was very uncomfortable, even in strong wind. Sodebo reacts very well under autopilot. Made optimizations seem really effective and I'm confident. »

* After a beautiful first day of skiing, Sodebo crossed off the coast of Cape Finisterre when the rope holding the bridge the small gennaker (sailing to front) broke training with him front balcony (at the bow of the central hull) who ripped off and raised more than eight metres high.

 

 

 

Thomas Coville departs on the maxi trimaran Sodebo in pursuit of the solo multihull round the world record

From the following article (in French) on sodebo.fr

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/thomas-joint-19h

and the rough bing translate below:

12/11/2013

Thomas joined at 7 p.m.

 

While the Sun is set aboard the maxi-trimaran Sodebo launched currently to more than 27 nodes in the Bay of Biscay, the skipper took the time to take stock of his first hours at sea in solitaire:

 

"It is always difficult to leave. My children grow up. We must explain things, talk more. I thought me harder as they get older but this is not the case! I was quite moved and it goes very fast. Of a sudden, you drop the mooring lines and the faces disappear. It is very intense and very stealth.

 

Then it's always scary to let them jump to the water (members of the technical team that accompanied the skipper aboard up to one hour prior to departure), you're always afraid that they hurt themselves with speed.

 

After the line, I've seen away Ouessant, the last land I'll see maybe before Cape Horn. There, I've been overflown by a gust of the French army, it was nice. And then it was the turn of an aircraft of the customs that I know well and who flew over Oman (Air-Musandam, trimaran' 70 currently engaged on the Transat Jacques Vabre) a few days ago. And finally, a fisherman welcomed me to the VHF. A nice moment. I have tremendous respect for these professionals who spend their lives at sea.

 

And there, I'm alone but I do realize that I'm leaving for so long.

 

I have a first gybe to around midnight. I've released a ris in the afternoon and will surely take it in a few hours when the wind will pick. I attack my first night after a beautiful sunset. The moon rose and the stars begin to shine around me. I was well hydrated and ate a little. Not much because I was still knotted but then, I'm going back to eat. »

The tracker for this record attempt is now live:

http://sodebo-tdm.addviso.org/fr/

  

Thomas Coville and Sodebo likely to depart tomorrow based on evolving weather window

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

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/vers-depart-demain-mardi-pour-thomas-coville

and the rough bing translate below:

11/11/2013

Towards a start tomorrow Tuesday for Thomas Coville

Since four days, Thomas Coville and his team of routing observe the evolution of a weather window for a possible start of Ouessant (end of day) Tuesday on record around the world single-handed. If conditions appear muscular between Ushant and the Canary Islands, doubts persist on the strength of the trade winds up to the latitude of Cape Verde. The skipper of the maxi-trimaran Sodebo chose with its routers to await analysis of forecast files tonight to confirm whether his departure tomorrow to assault the record held by Francis Joyon since January 2008 in 57(j) 13 h 34 m and 6 s.

 

Behind a passing cold front that night on Ouessant, North 25 knots wind must settle in tomorrow off the coast of Brittany tip and the Bay of Biscay. With acceleration at over 30 knots at Cape Finisterre, the launch pad would be fast and physical for the skipper. With a few gybes to disengage from the shores of Europe and win in the West, the path then announced fluid on one long edge in the Northeast Tradewinds. It is at this stage that routers observe a possible slowdown.

 

« It is a beautiful window even if it is not perfect, ' said the skipper whose trimaran Sodebo is on standby at the Port of the castle in Brest since October 18. « It is always an evil Chu cut a good weather window.» We must accept that this is not ideal and know-how for violence to soar. Departure would be tomorrow evening at Ouessant with 25/30 knots of wind from North and the sea front. The first 24 hours should be manly between the Bay of Biscay and Cape Finisterre. Then, we could draw a pretty path between the coast of the Portugal and Ecuador, almost on an edge. On the other hand, we have a period of lower wind between the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, we therefore wish to wait the next files to see how this evolves. »

 

More info to follow at 10 p.m. tonight.

When a start tomorrow on Tuesday, 12 November, here is the place envisaged:

H-4 of the crossing of the line at Ushant: the maxi-trimaran Sodebo drops the mooring lines.

H-2 of the crossing of the line: Thomas Coville is alone aboard the maxi-trimaran Sodebo

Time H: top departure!

Sodebo team examine recent weather window but remain on standby

From the following article (in French) on sodebo.fr/voile

 

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/maxi-trimaran-sodebo-toujours-stand

 

and the rough bing translate below:

 

This is three weeks as the skipper of the maxi-trimaran SODEBO and its routing cell * analyze weather files waiting for a weather window that is conducive to the start of this new record attempt around the world solo and multihull. If Tuesday, routes suggested a small window for this Thursday, it quickly closed.

For the first time since October 18, date of commencement of stand-by for the record of the round the world single-handed, the lights went green, the space of a few hours. Indeed, routes allow to consider Tuesday morning from favorable conditions for a start Thursday, but this little window is closed as of Wednesday morning. Explanations of Jean-Luc Nélias, the maxi-trimaran Sodebo router: "models offered us interesting routes departing from Ushant on 7 November in the evening with a fairly direct route and a single jibe to take us to the equator in 168 hours (7 days). However, we were still pretty far from the ideal scenario because it is a start of night, in rough seas of 4 metres about which does not facilitate manoeuvres start in solitary configuration. Wednesday morning, the European model definitely closing the window with winds again South-West binding advance to the beating between Ushant and Cape Finisterre and thus torpedoing the average speed towards the equator. »

So, it's a new week of stand-by, which begins for the skipper of the maxi-trimaran. If nothing is looming for the weekend, routing cell especially monitors files that relate to the beginning of next week. « Today, there not exploitable window in the next 4 days. We observe however a change of pace from November 12 with the displacement of high pressure in the Northeast but nothing is less sure, things are moving very quickly. " " added Jean-Luc Nélias.

A holder of the Route de la Découverte router!

Sodebo routing cell is again complete with the return of Thierry Douillard who took advantage of the absence of weather window for the maxi-trimaran Sodebo, to embark aboard the maxi Spindrift 2, new owner of record of the Route de la Découverte - Cadiz / San El Salvador - in 6 days and 14 hours. " I congratulate the team of Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard. It is a beautiful project and a great success for this first record attempt. In this period of deferral of race and waiting, it feels good. ' Finds Thomas Coville.

* Routing cell consists of Jean-Luc Nélias, Thierry Douillard, and Thierry Briend in collaboration with Richard Silvani's weather France.