Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

Final 100 miles for Maxi Banque Populaire V

by Brian Thompson 6 Jan 2012 19:55 GMT 6 January 2012

Click here for the latest audio from Brian Thompson

Hi All

Jean Baptiste came on deck this morning and said to us "fast, but not furious", and that's been our mantra. Despite doing outstanding speeds the last 2 days we have not been furious, always been in control... The conditions have just been great with small seas and winds of 25-30 knots..we have been changing between the solent and small gennaker, and between one and two reefs in the main..

Top speed that I did on my last watch was 43.6! That's the fastest I will get to till the finish, as the wind will drop slowly... it might well have been my last full on blast on this mighty machine..

However much we want to get to the finish, to accomplish the goal, to lift the stress of going this fast for so long, to see family and friends, to do other things than live in a carbon tunnel. There is part of you, a small but valid one that is sad to see it ending - could this be the best trip of a lifetime?

So am enjoying these last miles, these last hours as we blast past Ireland, the Scillies and onwards to the finish.

This afternoon has been busy, and like seeing the first jet contrails, the first fishing boats, we are experiencing the first signs of approaching civilisation, of reengagement with the land world.

At 1100 we had a satellite being guided to sit overhead to take picture, at 1300 a French navy/coastguard jet, a Falcon 50, from our boat's home port of Lorient, came to take video. At 1500 we will get a call from the President of France...

It's all going on here!

ETA 2200 to midnight tonight. One last watch to go..and I think our lucky watch streak is going to continue, with having the start, finish and most of the major Capes during our time on deck..

Now with on reef and medium gennaker the wind is starting to drop a little.

We are having the most unorthodox arrival at the finish line - from the North. We almost certainly have now gone the furthest North (52N) and furthest South (62S) of any Jules Verne attempt..

More later after a brief afternoon sleep..

Brian

Follow Banque Populaire on the final 67 miles (as of 8pm) on the tracker here

Related Articles

Maxi Banque Populaire XI on a tour
From the Mediterranean to the Gironde Aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, Armel Le Cléac'h and his crew departed their home port of Lorient on April 29th for a long voyage that will take them to the Mediterranean and then to the Gironde estuary. Posted on 8 May Loïs Berrehar and Charlotte Yven reunited
For 800 mile Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Trophy With the Solitaire du Figaro just under a month away, Loïs Berrehar will have one last opportunity to fine-tune his preparation. Starting Thursday, he will compete in the Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Trophy. Posted on 16 Apr The Maxi Banque Populaire 15
The new trimaran for 2029 will be the 7th from the team It is with pride that the Bank of Sailing is launching, for the ninth time in its history, the construction of a new boat, an Ultim trimaran to be christened "Maxi Banque Populaire 15," with Armel Le Cléac'h as skipper. Posted on 16 Mar A constant challenge for Team Banque Populaire
What lies ahead in 2026 for the IMOCA and Ultim teams Team Banque Populaire is preparing for a particularly busy season. Aboard Banque Populaire XI, an ambitious solo and crewed program is on the horizon, with victory as the sole objective. Posted on 15 Jan Banque Populaire make repairs in Transat Café L'OR
Working at their base in Lorient after detecting a rudder problem The members of Team Banque Populaire have been working tirelessly through the night. After detecting a rudder problem, Armel Le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse, in consultation with the team, decided to stop at their base in Lorient. Posted on 27 Oct 2025 Jules Verne Trophy Paris Prize Giving
British sailor Brian Thompson lifts the prize Brian Thompson, the only British crew member onboard the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V, was yesterday honoured in Paris for the fastest navigation of the world. Posted on 4 Apr 2012 Banque Populaire V new holder
Of the Jules Verne Trophy Three and a half years after being launched in August 2008, the Maxi Banque Populaire V has entered records history by taking the Jules Verne Trophy at the end of a navigation of 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds around the globe. Posted on 7 Jan 2012 Jules Verne Trophy record smashed
Banque Populaire V takes nearly 3 days off the time At 22h 14min 35sec GMT, Maxi Banque Populaire V crossed the finish line in their round the world Jules Verne Trophy Record attempt, smashing the record set by Groupama 3 of 48 days 7 hours 44 minutes 52 seconds in March 2010 by nearly 3 days. Posted on 6 Jan 2012 400 miles left for Brian Thompson
As Maxi Banque Populaire V speeds towards record Brian Thompson, the only British crew member onboard the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V, is around 24 hours away from completing the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht. Posted on 6 Jan 2012 Under 1000 miles for Banque Populaire V
Bearing down on Jules Verne Trophy finish line We have just turned over our countdown odometer from 1001 to 999! So to now break the existing record, we have to average about 10 knots. 2 days ago, near Bermuda, it was 17 knots, and back at the Equator, 6 days ago, it was a 13 knots average required. Posted on 5 Jan 2012
Copyright 2026 YY Online Services Ltd. registered in England no. 7895890
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy