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Jules Verne Trophy"SVR Lazartigue" collides, gives up and turns round

Fridtjof Gunkel

 · 03.12.2024

Here still at full speed: Francois Gabart and his crew had to abort their world record attempt as part of the Jules Verne Trophy
Photo: Thomas Deregnieaux/Qaptur/SVR-Lazartigue
Jules Verne Trophy cancelled: Francois Gabart's Ultim trimaran "SVR Lazartigue" was severely damaged in a collision with an OANI. The team wants to replace the affected foil and start again

Francois Gabart and crew have to abandon their world record attempt in the Jules Verne Trophy for the time being. The starboard foil is severely damaged as a result of a collision, probably with an OANI. The new abbreviation stands for Unidentified Object or Animal and replaces the more familiar UFO (Unidentified Floating Object).

Gabart said: "The starboard foil was damaged and after analysing the damage we decided to turn back in order to reach our home port of Concarneau as quickly as possible, which we should be able to do between Friday and Sunday." The tri had been continually hitting the waves hard and braking abruptly, then the crew noticed damage to the outer laminate layers of the foil, said Gabart, the 20122/13 Vendée Globe winner. The plan now is to swap the damaged foil for a replacement at home and then start the Jules Verne Trophy again in a favourable weather window.

Jules Verne Trophy: The best time has stood since 2017

Due to the cancellation of "SVR Lazartigue", only the "Sodebo" with Thomas Coville and crew, which started a little earlier, is still in the current Jules Verne Trophy for the best time for a circumnavigation.

The record currently stands at an incredible 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds for the route Ushant/Brest (France), round Antarctica and back. The average speed was 21.96 knots. This record time for the French trimaran under Francis Joyon has stood since 2017. The first non-stop circumnavigation dates back to 1968/69, when the Brit Robin Knox-Johnston took 313 days single-handed with his monohull "Suhaili", which corresponded to an average speed of 3.39 knots. The first crew to break the imaginary 80-day barrier, borrowed from the novel "Around the World in 80 Days" by the eponymous author Jules Verne, was the Frenchman Bruno Peyron, who circumnavigated the globe in 79 days.

Pictures of Francis Joyon's trimaran "Idec", which has held the Jules Verne record for eight years:

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Fridtjof Gunkel

Fridtjof Gunkel

Deputy Chief Editor YACHT

Fridtjof Gunkel was born on Helgoland in 1962; he started his sailing career there in the Opti and quickly switched to keelboats. North Sea Week, Cowes Week and Kiel Week were early stops, followed by many years in the Admiral's Cup scene on the cuppers “Container” and “Rubin” World Championships and international regattas in the Starboat, with the mini-maxi “SiSiSi” and various tonner yachts as well as participation in the Whitbread Round the World Race were further formative stations, flanked by extensive cruising trips. Fridtjof Gunkel joined YACHT back in 1985 as part of a traineeship, where he later became Head of the Test & Technology department and then Deputy Editor-in-Chief around 25 years ago. He is also responsible for the regatta and sports section. Fridtjof Gunkel privately sails a performance/cruiser moored on the Baltic coast, his favorite areas are the eastern Swedish archipelago and Brittany.

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