IDEC in New York Before Record Attempt in 2011 (Photo by George Bekris)
Francis Joyon is leaving. In a few days, he will address the prestigious North Atlantic record. Success would make him the first skipper to win the incredible “Grand Slam” of records. Joyon will be on stand-by in New York from May 15. Yesterday evening the skipper was in Paris for a great evening presentation at Pershing Hall in the presence of three of the four solo Atlantic record holders Florence Arthaud, Thomas Coville and Bruno Peyron, current record holder. His record will be challenged shortly by the skipper of the Maxi-trimaran IDEC.
Florence Arthaud ,Francis Joyon,Patrice Lafargue, Thomas Coville and Bruno Peyron© Aurimages / Groupe IDEC
Hold 21 knots average for less than 5 days, 19 hours and 29 minutes. Alone. On the demanding North Atlantic. That’s the challenge with the high bar set by Thomas Coville in July 2008. Francis Joyon will sail between the Statue of Liberty and the English Cornwall. To be precise between Ambrose Light in New York and that the Lizard in the south of England . In that in-between are heavy waves, winds and icebergs to content with while sailing at breakneck speeds.
Francis Joyon on IDEC in New Your prior to record attempt in 2011 ( Photo by George Bekris)
Francis Joyon on IDEC breaks Discovery Route Record (Cadiz , Spain - San Salvador, Bahamas) (Photo by JM Liot / DPPI / IDEC)
Francis Joyon has made land on his Maxi-trimaran IDEC, and set a new world sailing record* for the Discovery Route from Cadiz, Spain.
With a time of 9 days, 20 hours, and 35 minutes, IDEC has beat the previous record set by Thomas Coville, and added yet another feat to Joyon’s collection (Joyon also holds the ’round the world solo record). This route is an approximation of the course that Columbus took in 1492 when it is often said he “discovered” the new world (though the Americas were already populated, and had been visited previously by other Europeans).
While Columbus’ ponderous little fleet took 70 days to make the journey, Joyon and IDEC did it in less than 10. A rather dramatic improvement, and an amazing feat even if Joyon wasn’t sailing solo – but of course he was. With little sleep, and in fact little sitting, Joyon has set the bar higher, and IDEC has further established the trimaran at the top of performance designs.
Many armchair “experts” declared last week that Joyon would not make the record, due to the fact that he hit some light air along the course. What they forgot was that Coville also had some calm winds in 2005, as in fact did Columbus and crew. Joyon made the most of what the conditions offered, and as the breezes built, he had IDEC fairly flying along as he neared the Bahamas, and crossed the line this morning.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Francis Joyon is poised to succeed his bet on the Discovery Route. On Thursday afternoon, he did more than 280 miles to cover to cut the finish line in San Salvador. After being slowed yesterday, IDEC found speeds of around 20 knots and should ultimately bring its own record below 9 days! Arrival tomorrow Friday!
Almost direct route or a little less than 300 miles to go, the maxi trimaran IDEC has found a few hours speeds of around 20 knots. After much maneuvering yesterday – as expected – to negotiate quiet areas south of an anticyclone, Francis Joyon has managed to preserve half of the advance he had known garner far, approximately 200 miles 400. This should be enough to raise that reaching the goal set at the beginning of Cadiz is exactly 8 days, ie “win ten hours.”
The final gain will probably nearly double that envisaged since IDEC should cut the finish line in the morning tomorrow, Friday, February 15. In any case well before the scheduled deadline to improve its own record on this course in 2008 (9 days and 20 h), knowing that to do IDEC must happen before Saturday 9:21 French time.
Below 9 days … without routing!
“If all goes well, I get in fact in the morning tomorrow, Friday,” confirms Francis Joyon phone Thursday, “even if it takes to negotiate the final calm. Having said that, I have a little more wind provided that the files “welcomes the driver of the maxi trimaran IDEC.
Recall that this genuine performance will be carried out in unprecedented conditions, since Francis Joyon road itself without outside help. And this road to discovery is yet more complex than the most prestigious record in the North Atlantic. Indeed, in this sense, the solo sailor is forced to deal with a series of weather systems which are linked, and therefore transition zones never easy to manage and time consuming. This is what largely explains why sailors always put more time in the west-east direction between New York and the Lizard, where – from east to west so – the game is to surf high speed trains transatlantic depressions. This record is also another program Francis Joyon this year. IDEC and is now on the right side of the Atlantic to put on stand-by in New York in the spring arrives. Another challenge … but not anticipate. For now, Joyon must complete its transatlantic journey there will be time tomorrow morning to get out the calculators!
Francis Joyon on IDEC (Photo by JEAN MARIE LIOT / DPPI / IDEC)
Francis Joyon (Photo by George Bekris )
668 nautical miles 1237 kilometers in 24 hours! The new distance record in 24 hours by boat and sailing solo. The navigator Francis Joyon set a new record last night absolute speed over 24 hours, on board his giant trimaran IDEC 29 meters, the average hourly a stunning 27.83 knots …
IDEC Francis Joyon by George Bekris
Francis Joyon had left Trinidad last Friday on-Sea, heading for the Azores in order to find the ideal conditions to address the reference time been held by Thomas Coville water with 628.5 miles set in 2008 during his second attempt against the lap record in the world, still held by Francis.
“I needed to meet ideal conditions, that I had previously found that in the Indian Ocean, with winds well established in the regular time, preferably in front of a front in order to benefit from a sea (relatively) flat … I went about 800 miles west of Cape Finisterre, on the edge of high pressure near the Azores. I left with a wind from the southwest, but I have faced from the outset an otherwise swell from the north.
I attacked back, and after a time, the swell is ordered and the wind increased to 32 knots. It was extremely dangerous. The boat was constantly on the edge. I do not Barrais. I remained standing 24 hours in my cockpit with mainsheet in one hand, and listening to Solent in the other. When the boat crashed into the wave, I shocked one or the other. But I often listen to shock all at once. No rest. Some granola bars for food only. ”
This is essentially the same words and the incredible Mr. Joyon recipe for iconic record. With peaks of 34 knots, the Marine Locmariaquer adds a new line to his many records. He had already held the record in 2004 aboard the old trimaran IDEC.
He carried this time reference to 613.5 miles (25.56 knots average) record during his World Tour victory in 2007. This is Thomas Coville, who had therefore taken the time reference in the following year by swallowing 619 miles to 25.80 knots average near Kerguelen. This same Thomas Coville on his 32 meter trimaran was then his own record to 628, 5000, to 26.2 knots in December 2008.
“I would have been very pleased to get this record, if only a handful of miles” says Francis. “But nearly 40 miles! I am very happy. My satisfaction comes mostly from the fact that I have sailed since I was little capsize last year when I attempt against the record for crossing the Atlantic. IDEC has undergone a beautiful site this winter. But the mast is the same one that broke in two during the capsize. As for sails, these are the originals, which have good 90,000 miles on the clock. Beyond the numbers, I just offer a truly magical moment. Able to operate such a machine to its full potential is extraordinary. That’s what I thought doubling cargo in showers of foam. ”
* (Under approval by the World Sailing Speed Record
Francis Joyon IDEC (Photo by Jean-Marie Liot /DPPI /IDEC)
IDEC in New York Before Recod Attempt (Photo by George Bekris)
The giant trimaran IDEC skippered by Francis Joyon has overturned this morning around 7:00 (HF) off the coast of New York. He had crossed the start at 00 hours, 08 minutes and 10 seconds GMT (02 hours, 08 minutes and 10 seconds HF) in his attempt against the record for crossing the North Atlantic. Francis Joyon was about twenty miles off when his multihull was taken at night in a violent burst the passage of a storm. The trimaran was then the “web time”, with three reefs in the mainsail taken and CRO in the front, is the ideal combination to manage and some 25 knots of wind blowing from the south in the area. Through the wind, a sea still calm, Joyon was facing the most perilous conditions for a multihull. A violent and sudden squall capsized suddenly has the maxi trimaran IDEC on the side.
Relief was immediately alerted. Francis Joyon is well. He is in contact with the router Jean-Yves Bernot. He will probably remain on board the boat overturned pending the arrival of a tug capable of IDEC back safely.
Francis Joyon’s own words on what happened during the night:
“I was in my seat to watch outside the boat. I began to extricate myself meteorologically disturbed area as close to American shores. I had managed to drive about 90 miles on the road in very irregular and highly unstable, with a poorly established wind direction varied between 10 and 30 knots. I went through some very intense storm episodes, marked by violent gusts but it’s at a time when I thought I extract myself from this area that I received as a true giant mushroom that has catapulted the boat on its side. I was sailing under reefed mainsail with three reefs, with the small CRO in the front. The violence of the gale was such that the bed sensor, alarm anti capsize so did not have time to go off I felt the pressure and I shocked the mainsail, then the cart in style. The wind continued to grow very violently and I felt the boat literally catapulted into the air. Within seconds, I was “on the roof.” I found myself under water, as plated in the nets. I tried to m ‘ guide to see how back in the open air. It was night and chaos. In energy, I found myself near a float. I’m not sure how I joined the forward beam and I was able to climb onto the platform. I then joined inside the boat through the flap survival.
I think Idec has not suffered too much. I have about 10 cm of water inside. I could save my mail. I got my phone from my Iridium to prevent capsizing. I have a “flash light” very powerful and I felt like the boat drift into the path of major shipping to New York, I spent the late night on the threads to report my presence to freighters. The sun rises now and what danger is. I am in contact with hourly Christophe Houdet down. I know that many people are mobilizing to find a tug. I am only fifty miles from Newport (Rhode Island). The boat seems intact and I know that the rig does not bump against the platform. The sea state is calm and air temperature quite bearable. I have something to eat. ” Once a towing vessel arrives, I will be able to dump the rig, and perhaps consider a turning operation to facilitate towing … ”
A rescue boat arrived on area to assess the situation, take part in securing the area of the capsizing, and may lend support to Francis. Patrice Lafargue, Chairman of the IDEC active all her network of contacts in real time and follows the evolution of the situation. Francis Joyon has no plans to leave his boat. Various contacts are underway with U.S. and tugs can be reasonably estimated that the recovery operation of the boat with Francis on board will be set up in the day ….
We are so sorry to hear of this news about IDEC , but very thankful that Francis was uninjured in the capsize.
Francis Joyon on IDEC in New Your prior to record attempt (Photo by George Bekris)
Maxi-Trimaran IDEC (Photo by George Bekris)
Joyon’s Trans-Atlantic record bid hits snag
The setback occurred just as Joyon was about to embark on the ocean voyage, chasing the record of five days, 19 hours, 30 minutes and 40 seconds, set in 2008 by compatriot Thomas Coville, a spokeswoman said.
Joyon, 55, was approaching the starting line at Ambrose lighthouse in heavy rain and poor visibility when he discovered a crack in one of the cross-beams of the bright red trimaran “Idec,” a spokeswoman said.
“The skipper explained that they had apparently collided with a navigational buoy. The attempt at the record for crossing the Atlantic was therefore delayed,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.
Joyon returned to the New York marina for repairs “that Francis will take care of alone,” the statement said.
He had been hoping to embark late Sunday, taking advantage of a depression that brought strong south-westerly winds. Traveling at about 25 knots, the 97-foot (29.7 meters) trimaran was set to cover 2,925 miles (5,417 kilometers) between the Big Apple and the Lizard headland in Cornwall, southwestern Britain.
It was unclear when the next opportunity for an attempt on the record might come.
For the veteran extreme racing sailor, leaving with the right weather pattern for a fast crossing meant all the difference between success and failure. He’d been on standby for six weeks before deciding to take his chance Sunday.
“As is often the case, especially in this period of late summer, the meteorological picture in the North Atlantic doesn’t add up perfectly,” his team said in a statement before Sunday’s aborted start.
Joyon had called Sunday “by far the best opportunity we’ve had since we went on stand-by.”
In 2008, he set the record for a single-handed world circumnavigation of 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and six seconds.
Today the Challenge and Adventure team had the pleasure of visiting Francis Joyon onboard IDEC. The current solo Round the World Record holder and former Transatlantic Record holder is in New York to attempt to set a new Transatlantic Record. He arrived in New York last night to make final preparations on his Maxi Trimaran IDEC. His bright red boat patiently waits at Gateway Marina to loose her lines and take him on another record breaking adventure.
It looks like it’s a green light for Joyon to leave tomorrow (Sunday) night for his Solo Transatlantic record attempt. Joyon wants to take this record back from Thomas Coville who currently holds the record that Francis Joyon owned from 2005-2008. The time to beat is 5 days 19 hours 29 minutes and 20 seconds. Joyon’s weather router-navigator, Jean-Yves Bernot, has spied a window for Sunday evening with a front moving off the East Coast of the USA to push him across the start. Joyon will leave New York and start the clock at the buoy, which recently replaced the legendary Ambrose Light Tower, a few miles off the New York Coast and finish the crossing at The Lizard.
A quiet air of confidence is displayed by the the skipper as bounces around the boat doing last minute checks of gear and stores for the crossing. He restocked some fruit and water in addition Freeze-dried food already on board. Her bottom is smooth, he dove on her this morning but he says he may dive again once more just to make sure. Francis Joyon has waited nearly 6 weeks for this window and three years for the opportunity and he is set to make the most out of it. He seems very ready and so does the boat. This new IDEC is about 20 percent faster than the older and that is a plus for shaving off time he needs to take the record.
We spoke about the first IDEC and his Atlantic record that ended with his getting the record, but loosing his beloved boat when after crossing the finish he crashed it on rocks after falling asleep delivering her home. He still misses that boat he said. Joyon said that during the crossing for the record he only had 6 hours sleep in 5 days. He will try to rest before this start he says. He finds it hard to sleep with planes flying overhead he adds. He sleeps best out to sea away from the noises of land and man.
As the current Solo Round the World Sailing Record holder he has set the bar very high for any challengers and it looks like it may be some time before he has to defend that title. But, when asked what he would do if someone did break his record. He said without hesitation he would go around again to take it back. Like I said quietly confident.
Bon Voyage Francis
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