Banque Populaire V sets new Jules Verne Trophy record

by Editor 6 Jan 2012 22:31 GMT 6 January 2012

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. The new record stands at 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds*.

They sailed a total distance of 29,002 miles at an average speed of 26.51 knots.

Hannah White spoke to Brian Thompson moments after they crossed the finish line - click here to hear the interview.

* Subject to approval by the World Sailing Speed Record Council

The fourteen sailors aboard the Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V just entered history of offshore racing by becoming the fastest men around the globe with crew, after 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds of sailing*. Loïck Peyron and his crew improved the reference time of the Jules Verne Trophy held by Groupama 3 since March 2010 by 2 days 18 hours 1 minute and 59 seconds.

Historic record for Banque Populaire

Departed on November 22nd at 09:31:42 Paris time (08:31:42 GMT), after having crossed the imaginary line between Ushant (Finistère-France) and Lizard Point (southern tip of England), the Maxi Banque Populaire V crossed the finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy at 23:14:35 Paris time (22:14:35 GMT) this Friday. She undertook this sailing around the world in 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds days at an average speed of 26.51 knots, covering a total distance of 29 002 miles.

Launched in August 2008 in Lorient (Morbihan-France),the giant trimaran holding the colours of Banque Populaire has also established several referenced time on various partials officially listed by the WSSRC for her first world tour:

• Equator / Equator record in 32 days, 11 hours, 51 minutes and 30 seconds
• Indian Ocean crossing record (Cape Agulhas / South of Tasmania) in 8 days 7 hours 22 minutes and 15 seconds

Under the leadership of the skipper Loïck Peyron, Thierry Chabagny, Florent Chastel, Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, Kevin Escoffier, Emmanuel Le Borgne, Frédéric Le Peutrec, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Ronan Lucas, Pierre-Yves Moreau, Yvan Ravussin, Xavier Revil, Brian Thompson, Juan Vila and onshore router Marcel van Triest, are the new holders of the Jules Verne Trophy*.

Loïck Peyron, skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire V:

The feeling from the guys onboard : Emotion and Happiness ! We have filled a good part of the contract! We will now appreciate our victory between us and will return in Brest tomorrow morning to share this beautiful story with everyone. Our memories are full of wonderful images: the departure, icebergs, albatrosses, the Kerguelen Islands... When you sail around the world in 45 days, you see many things. The only one we did not get is Cape Horn but this frustration is quickly forgotten with the record we now have in hands. We are very proud !

Brian Thompson:

“Everyone is really excited on board and we are looking forward to seeing everybody tomorrow morning. This has been an incredible trip around the planet, almost a dream ride. And that is because of the quality of the boat, of the preparation and most of all to the incredible crew on board. I am very fortunate to have sailed with Loïck, the best all round multihull sailor there is, and the rest of the team that are so talented, industrious, dedicated, fun and welcoming to an English guy with schoolboy French! It feels absolutely fantastic. At the same time, to become the first Briton to sail around the world non-stop 4 times, is just amazing and feels very special”

Jules Verne Trophy

• Start date and time : November 22nd 2011 at 09:31:42 Paris time (08:31:42 GMT)
• Arrival date and time at Ushant: January 6th 2012 at 23:14:35 Paris time (22:14:35 GMT)
• Distance: 29,002 miles
• Average speed: 26.51 knots
• New reference time on the Jules Verne Trophy* : 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds
• Time difference with Groupama 3’s record in 2010: 2 days 18 hours 1 minute and 59 seconds

* Under the WSSRC approval (World Sailing Speed Record Council).

Loïck Peyron and his crew are expected at the Marina du Château, quai Jean-Francois La Perouse in Brest (France) at around 10:30am this Saturday, January 7th.