Banque Populaire V is blazing along. Their lead over Groupama 3 after 11 days is more than 1800 miles. Banque Populaire is a massive trimaran at 40 meters. The web site is very well set up with as much information as you could ever want to know and very easy to navigate.
Category: banque populaire
BANQUE POPULAIRE V INCREASING THEIR LEAD
Banque Populaire V now has a lead of 1030 miles over the ghost of Groupama, the present holder of the record around the world. I remember when Geromino, with Olivier de Kerusauson, had a 7 day lead closing on France, less than a thousand miles, and do not finish in the limit.
JULES VERNE TROPHY
Thanksgiving Day, the United States is taking pause, Banque Populaire V with Brian Thompson aboard left Ushant just over 2 days ago is already off the coast of Africa; just ahead of the present record holder Groupama, Stan Honey had been the navigator for that record setting passage
I sailed with Brian a couple of years ago in the middle sea race, on a monohull, slow compared to the 42-45 knots of boat speed Banque Populaire is reporting presently.
JULES VERNE TROPHY RECORD ATTEMPT
Banque Populaire V, with Brian Thompson aboard has left the dock, setting off for an attempt at breaking the non-stop around the world record, which stands at 44 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds.
BANQUE POPULAIRE HEADED HOME
After having hit an unidentified object at speed during the night two days ago; attempted repairs; the decision has been made to stop the attempt around the world. At the time Banque Populaire was approximately 290 miles behind the record. A distance that could have easily been recouped. See the story in Brian Thompson’s blog.
BUMP IN THE NIGHT
COLLISION WITH UFO
(February 3, 2011; Day 13) – At 2:00 am (Paris time), while sailing at a
speed of 37 knots south of the 40th parallel, the 131-foot trimiran Banque
Populaire V hit an unidentified floating object during their Jules Verne
Trophy Record attempt. Under the shock, part of the crash box drift – part
fuse protecting the immersed part – was broken, requiring Pascal Bidegorry
and his crew to heave to for an hour to go account of the damage.
“Tonight, we immediately felt the shock but the Maxi Banque Populaire V did
not stop,” said Bidegorry. “However, we made the decision to halt the
progress of the boat and ride the sails. But in the dark night, it was not
easy to realize the damage.”
Further confirmation of the damage has not been available. The immediate
plan for the crew was to limit their speed to 25 knots and seek out a calm
region so that they can better review the situation in daylight. The team
is currently at the 45 degree south latitude, southwest of the African
continent.
291 MILES AHEAD
Banque Populaire V is 291 miles ahead after 24 hours! Brian Thompson is the only non Gall aboard In order to beat the record around the world they must finish by march 11, 19:55:37
NEW TRANS-ATLANTIC RECORD
Banque Populaire a 130 foot trimaran crossed the atlantic in 3 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes, 48 seconds. I should add that in the process they sailed 907 miles in 24 hours.
I sailed the same course in 2005 on an 80 ketch, winning our class, in 14 days and some hours.
907 MILES IN 24 HOURS
907 miles in 24 hours. Who would have imagined. Now they ( the crew aboard Banque Populaire) are seriously considering 1000 miles.
I think the real heros of this achievement are the weather routers, the French weather routers.
This record was part of the larger plan to break the record from New York to the Lizard.
Sea state played an important part of this achievement.