Just 30 minutes apart, the two maxi-tris crossed the starting line off Ushant at around 03:00 on their non-stop circumnavigation. The skipper duo Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier from "Edmond de Rothschild" are hoping to make the most of a passing cold front. Thomas Coville's "Sodebo Ultim" had started just 30 minutes earlier. Both are now on course to break the record of 40 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes set by Francis Joyon and his crew with "Idec Sport". To do so, they have to be back by 5 January.
Sailing pictures of the boat
The Gitana team had been waiting two weeks for a weather window for the start, and now weather expert Marcel van Triest has given the go-ahead for the record attempt. According to the weather models, the foiling maxi-tri should make it to the equator in 4 days and 10 hours. Around 13 hours after the start, both boats were already out of the Bay of Biscay and sailing south at speeds of around 32 knots. Both have now jibed and are heading for the Portuguese coast.
Video about the Jules Verne Trophy project
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
