Jules Verne Trophy

[PaulK]

Just to make people aware of a pair of trimarans that are trying to beat the ''round the world record set by IDEC-SPORT in 2017. They started at different times, but have to finish in less than 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds to best IDEC-SPORT. SODEBO ULTIME 3 is running about 200 miles ahead at this point, sailing up the Atlantic to the finish line in France with a VMG of about 21 knots. Accueil - Sodebo - Ultim 3
The other boat, IDEC SPORT/The Famous Project with an all-woman crew is about 3500 miles from the finish, heading north at better than 25 knots over the last 24 hours. Maxi Trimaran Idec Sport • Trophée Jules Verne. Great drone videos and communications with the boats on their sites.

 

[shemandr]

Thanks for posting.

 

[PaulK]

The women on Idec are now heading almost due north at better than 17 knots. 3000 miles to go! Sodebo is south of them and stuck in a trough, only going just over 7 knots. Sodebo is still about 200 miles ahead of the record pace. Hope they get some more breeze soon.

 

[PaulK]

Sodebo hit the trades and is now moving at 38 knots thanks to smaller wave heights. Looking good to beat the record. Will they pass the women? That is the question.

 

[PaulK]

Doldrums coming up tonight for Sodebo. Routers expect them to get through fairly quickly, with the north side at about 1º latitude. NE trades again after that. Almost a 300 mile lead on the record pace now.

 

[PaulK]

They're out in the trades today- back up to 26 knots in 18 knots of wind, heading close to north and 400 miles ahead of the record pace. Nasty weather forecast: 50 knots of breeze and 24' waves

 

[kappykaplan]

back up to 26 knots in 18 knots of wind

Whoo hoo, that's cookin!!!

 

[shemandr]

Won’t they need to slow down in the big waves? Bay of Biscayne in January can be hostile - not that I would know. But French trimaran sailers live by another creed.

 

[PaulK]

Won’t they need to slow down in the big waves? Bay of Biscayne in January can be hostile - not that I would know. But French trimaran sailers live by another creed.

That has them worried. There's a chat (in French) on the left of the Sodebo tracking page that shows messages between the routing team and the boat.

 

[PaulK]

The women have tacked and are heading almost directly towards the finish at 25 knots. Looks like 3 days to go. The men have 2400 miles left to travel with a 600 mile lead compared to the record. Unless they can speed up it looks like it could be tight though.