With just under a day's lead on the existing record, the "Idec Sport" crew expanded their lead on the current record of "Banque Populaire V" at the end of the 18th day at sea. The "Merciless Six" with skipper Francis Joyon are currently racing in their trimaran beyond the 53rd parallel towards their big goal. When visibility is good, deep down in the Southern Ocean at speeds of more than 32 knots, the team has to watch out for pieces of floating ice, which in the "Screaming Fifties" pose the greatest danger to boat and crew.
Chasing records with a head start in the Pacific: Francis Joyon's "Idec Sport" team is well positioned in the lonely battle for the Jules Verne trophy
On January 2nd, the team had to announce two impressive new records: For the section from the starting line from the French island of Ouessant to Cape Leeuwin, they only needed 17 days, 6 hours and 59 minutes and were almost 17 hours ahead of Loïck Peyron's existing "Banque Populaire V" record. The crew completed the route from Cape Agulhas to Cape Leeuwin in 4 days, 9 hours and 37 minutes. Highly motivated by the strong Etmalen, Joyon and his team are now driving their Tri, will ring in the Tasmania Passage in the next 20 hours and are expected to cross the international date line on Friday. This is followed by the approach to Cape Horn before the final Atlantic spurt should crown the record mission.
Alex Pell indicates it is going well for the record hunters on Idec Sport
Cheerful New Years greetings from the Southern Ocean: The "Idec Sport" crew wishes a happy new year!
"We thought it would take longer to catch up with Banque Populaire V," said Francis Joyon after the latest record reports. "Loïck had a few difficult days in the Pacific back then. So we're happy. The Pacific looks good to us and we're determined to make the most of it." The previous record of "Banque Populaire V" from 2012 can be beaten. At that time, Loïck Peyron and his men had sailed around the world in 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds.
Here you can find the intermediate result, which is shown on the live map.
This picture of "Idec Sport" shows the enormous dimensions of the trimaran