Banque Populaire Crew (Photo by B.STICHELBAUT/BPCE)
Since mid-November 2009, Pascal Bidegorry and his team have been looking at every weather opportunities to make an attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy. Despite this stand-by period, the Team Banque Populaire has not managed to find the proper conditions has thus decided to reschedule their crewed handed round the world attempt to next fall.
The disappointment is huge. Even though some weather forecasts were seriously considered for a while, some major deterioration of those systems made Pascal Bidegorry and his team forced to wait longer. Ronan Lucas, Team Manager, comes back on the decision of putting an end to the stand-by period: “The disappointment is huge even if we are only postponing it. Until mid-December we were quite demanding, and we were only looking at conditions that could at least bring us at equal time with Orange 2 at the Cape of Good Hope. We had three months ahead of us and it was normal to expect something better and put all the chances on our side to, first complete the round but also to achieve a performance. Then we watched the slightest opportunity, as we wanted to leave, but there were none, except “boat-breaking” ones and no way to leave under those conditions! We did not want to leave either in a spirit of “there we go, we’ll see what happens” neither with “double or quits” conditions.
We are responsible for this project and we do not want to jeopardize it. The shame is that we were sure to get an opportunity to leave even with less favorable conditions, but nothing turned up since December 15th. The boat was launched a year and half ago, the project is still new and we are lucky to have some time ahead and to be chasing records until 2012.”
No regrets regarding weather conditions
Responsibility therefore prevails today, even though the Maxi Banque Populaire V’s crew is disappointed. It is sure that everybody, crew, team and the public, would have liked to see the maxi trimaran chasing the Trophy, however, as Pascal Bidegorry reminds: “our project is still new, and we will chase the Jules Verne trophy this year, the soonest. We have a schedule to follow, and have some public relations campaigns planned in the Mediterranean. We really could not go further in term of deadline. The only regret I have is that we did not get to sail this winter and that was the goal of the whole work provided by the team beforehand. We will carry on the work to prepare at its best our departure in a few months with even more determination.”
An extraordinary winter: weather analysis by Marcel van Triest, navigator of the Maxi Banque Populaire V
“We’ve had an exceptional winter in the Atlantic basin. For January for instance, we have to go back as far as 1985 to find similar conditions and we have to go even further back in time to find similar conditions to the ones encountered in December. This has resulted in very wet and windy conditions in the South of Europe as shown by the bad weather and flooding in places such as: Canary Islands, Madeira and Spain. Cold and snowy conditions in places likes England and the Southern United States are further examples of this type of winter.
One of the symptoms of this 2009 winter was the very southerly path of low pressure systems normally expected around the British Isles. This winter they rather came via the Azores and Madeira to continue their journey in the Mediterranean Therefore, the famous Azores high pressure area could never take hold and the tradewinds that depend on this have been weak and irregular. This situation has persisted throughout the winter. These tradewinds were not only weak and very far south; they were also difficult to reach. Most of the “mouse hole” situations we have looked at were forcing us to sail around low pressure systems off Portugal or the Canary Islands. The subsequent transition from these low pressure systems to the tradewinds was difficult at best.
Our philosophy for the stand-by was: get out of the gulf of Biscay in manageable conditions, reach the Canary Islands in quick conditions and then make a not too painful transition to the tradewinds. We can – at most – have a fairly good idea on the weather for the first eight to ten days. Having full uncertainty for the remaining 80% of the course, our philosophy was to arrive in Cape Town with an advantage over Orange 2. Unfortunately we did not find the right conditions for that. Furthermore with the known presence of ice quite far North this year, we could not afford to arrive in the Southern Ocean without the necessary “cushion” to sail a longer distance to avoid these dangers. Orange 2 did not have that same constraint at the time and she could sail a shorter route.
As for now, leaving for example on March 15-th, means that we would pass (if all goes well) Cape Horn in late April. To give an equivalent in terms of latitude, this would correspond, in our hemisphere, to sail in Scotland late October. You can be lucky if summer drags on a bit, but it could also be very challenging. Late in the season like this everything becomes more severe in the South and at Cape Horn there is no option to take another route. Somewhere, we need to know where to set the limits and not risk getting into a potentially dangerous situation.”
One certain thing is that, next fall, it is with a desire and an increased motivation that Pascal Bidégorry and his crew will return on an attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy. In the meantime, they will continue their training, as it must be said, this adventure’s departure is only postponed…
Bruno Peyron (Photo by George Bekris)
The Race: Created by the French sailor Bruno Peyron, The Race started on 31st December 2000, as a way to celebrate our arrival in the third millennium with a global ocean race. The Race was the first race around the world without limits, in other words it was open to boats without any size restrictions. The total freedom that was given to designers led to the birth of a new generation of sailboats, maxi-multihulls, now known as the G-Class.
For the first edition of The Race, the first giant multihulls ever built set out from the start in Barcelona to sail around the world via the three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn) before crossing the finish line in Marseilles.
The reference time for the race was set by the New Zealander Grant Dalton aboard the maxi-catamaran Club Med, which completed the voyage in 62 days, 56 minutes and 33 seconds.
Three times holder of the Jules Verne Trophy and creator of The Race, the non-stop crewed race around the world without outside assistance and without limits, Bruno Peyron has officially announced that he has decided to relaunch The Race. After several months of studies and some careful thinking and after consulting the main potential competitors, a second edition of the race around the world for the giant G-class boats is therefore planned for 2013-2014, starting from a port in Southern Europe.
Orange II In Newport, RI (Photo by George Bekris)
Around ten giants
After talks with leading maxi-multihull G-class skippers, it transpires that out of the dozen giants that have so far been built, between eight and ten of them may be lining up for the start of The Race, and that is without counting any new boats, which may be built by then, in particular using moulds from the latest multihulls from the most recent generation.
The ultimate goal remains the same as when the first edition was launched: Bringing together “the ten fastest teams around the world.”
All lights are green
Bruno Peyron, who took some time to think about this before coming to a decision explains: “As I’ve been able to stand back and gain some perspective since I last took part in the Jules VerneTrophy, there are several things I noticed that led me to take this decision to relaunch The Race. First, since the recent America’s Cup that we have just seen, we can conclude that we French are no longer alone in the world of multihulls and that is excellent news. We are entering a new era.
We can see too that since The Race, 12 giant multihulls have been built, including four in the past three years. So today there are certainly enough boats of sufficient quality for us to propose this event relaunch to their skippers and partners, without counting any new multihulls, which may be built following on from this by 2013 or 2014.
I have noticed that some major brands have been looking at the possibilities offered by the Volvo Ocean Race, which I can fully understand, but this does indicate that there is simply no alternative international race for multihulls. And just to conclude, others around me have become aware of this and share this feeling and my discussions with the leading G-class skippers have led me to move things forward in this direction.
The new 100-foot class (of which three are already up and running and a fourth is about to be made ready) has shown what these innovative boats can do sailing around the world via the three legendary capes while budgets remain limited. So, in this respect, it is now much easier to be able to take part in The Race.
Why 2013 or 2014? To place the event in between two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race and to offer the main international challengers the possibility of taking part in the event. This time frame will enable teams to draw up their project and get things moving by attracting a group of ambitious and enthusiastic partners.”
The organising team is being formed
After talks with various agencies specialising in sports marketing, Bruno Peyron has decided to award the overall management of The Race event to Thierry Reboul. Former Head of Advertising for Air France and Head of Communications at Alcatel, Thierry Reboul was the founder of the Ubi bene agency, which specialises in promoting events.
He will in particular be in charge of organising and negotiating with the main partners and the official event sites.
A call for tender will be launched to complete the arrangements with an international team, which will be appointed as executive producers.
Comments:
Grant Dalton, Winner of The Race: “When Bruno Peyron announced he was launching The Race, with my experience of round the world sailing, it immediately interested me. Although the Jules Verne Trophy was fascinating, what really attracted me here was the idea of a real race with other boats. Thanks to Bruno’s vision, I was able to experience the finest moment of my professional career. The maxi-catamaran Club Med was the first of her kind, measuring 108 feet and able to cover more than 600 miles day after day. She was a marvel and I was privileged to be on board. The Race opened the way to more extreme sailing. It pushed back the limits and allowed us to do what had previously been thought impossible. This race remains by far the highlight of my 25 years of professional sailing. The idea of relaunching The Race will move the world of sailing another step forward.”
Pascal Bidégorry, Skipper of the maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V, holder of the North Atlantic record: “Since Banque Populaire V was built, taking part in The Race has seemed obvious to me. I experienced the first edition as a spectator and I can still remember the enthusiasm that surrounded this race. After a few years of sailing multihulls and when you are lucky enough to sail on a maxi-multihull like Banque Populaire, I can’t imagine taking part in all these record attempts without entering an event like The Race. These are fabulous boats and battling it out around the world in real time is incredible. I admire what they do in the Volvo Ocean Race, but from a race and sailing perspective, there’s nothing like The Race.”
Francis Joyon, the single-handed round the world record holder: “I think that any project, which gets our giant multihulls racing is something that needs to be looked at, particularly when the idea comes from Bruno, who has so much experience in this field.”
Lionel Lemonchois, winner of the last Route du Rhum and who was on board Team Adventure in the first edition of The Race: “It’s great to hear that Bruno is relaunching The Race. He is finally giving us an opportunity to race around the world aboard these incredible maxi-multihulls. Personally, this race led me to discover these fantastic machines and I have some great memories of it. With another challenge ahead, I hope to be there….”
For More information about The Race Click HERE
Banque Populaire V (Photo by BPCE/Benoit Stichelbaut)
After more than two months of standby for Trophée Jules Verne attempt. Today at 1200 the multihull Max Banque Populaire V and her crew went to code orange. A departure for the record is likely in the next 48 to 72 hours.
Pascal Bidégorry: “it is possible that we have an opportunity to leave Friday in the day, but the situation is quite unstable.” This is several days that we look carefully at this possible window, but it does not move much, we monitor so very closely and we will see much if things are moving in our favour. There are other opportunities next week, we are therefore very vigilant. What is most likely it is that things indicate that at the last moment. ”
Marcel van Triest, router of Banque Populaire V Max returns him also to this code change and weather window that profile: “today we decided to switch to code orange because there are certainly a weather window, but that we are not safe to enter both uncertain is.” If it evolves, it might be a good opportunity to try this Jules Verne trophy record. What may be complicated with weather analysis, is that this is only a matter of probability and visibilities are sometimes very limited. Today, I am more visibility into the South Atlantic in a week than on Brest on Friday. Thus we expect to see if this is accurate. “We shall, I hope a better idea by tonight or tomorrow.”
The team which has been held on standby, are carefully assessing all opportunities.
Pascal Bidegorry Skipper of Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire V (Photo by B. Stichelbaut / BPCE)
The names of the winners of the 2009 Ocean Records World Championship are now known. In the crewed category, Pascal Bidégorry is the new champion thanks to his great achievement this summer with the crew of the Banque Populaire V trimaran in the Atlantic. In the single-handed category, after Francis Joyon in 2008, it is now Thomas Coville, who deservedly takes this award after completing a round the world voyage in 59 days.
Thomas Coille, Skipper of Sodebo Transatlantic Record (Photo by Daniel Forster / DPPI)
The Ocean Records World Championship, which brings together all the major historic sailing records – over twenty routes in all – has delivered its verdict for 2009. In the final rankings based on each record being given a coefficient of one to ten according to its length and difficulty, the big winners in 2009 are Pascal Bidégorry in the crewed category and Thomas Coville for the single-handed sailors.
The North Atlantic and 24 hour record smashed
Pascal Bidégorry and his men have won the title of world champions thanks to the records set by the maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V in the Atlantic. To remind you of their incredible feat, they crossed the ocean averaging 32.94 knots with a time of 3 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes and 48 seconds… They also smashed the 24-hour record and in so doing went through two symbolic barriers: the 800-mile and then the 900-mile barrier … In fact the giant trimaran Banque Populaire V sailed 908 miles in just one day.
North Atlantic Record Holder Banque Populaire V, Skippered by Pascal Bidegorry (Photo by B. Stichelbaut / BPCE)
Looking at the solo sailors, after Francis Joyon in 2008 and his 57-day round the world record, it is Thomas Coville, who takes the title of 2009 World Champion, thanks to his non-stop single-handed round the world voyage completed in a time of 59 days, 20 hours, 47 minutes and 43 seconds, the second best time ever. Thomas Coville did not manage to better Francis Joyon’s record, but achieved a remarkable performance, for which he has quite naturally been rewarded with this title of 2009 World Champion. We can note that this is the second time Thomas Coville has won this title as he was already proclaimed world champion for the first time back in 2006.
The reactions of the champions:
Pascal Bidégorry:
“Receiving this title of World Champion during the first year of sailing this boat is obviously a great pleasure. It is an honour for all those, who sail on the maxi Banque Populaire V… and I hope it won’t be the last! I hope too that there will be more and more of us battling it out in this championship in the coming years. It’s great that such rankings exist. We’ll see about next year, but if we get it thanks to the Jules Verne Trophy, I won’t be complaining!”
Thomas Coville:
“Even if I always put this sort of honour into perspective – my real goal is to make another attempt at the single-handed round the world record next year- it’s really nice to be recognised in this way. The points system means that attempts are honoured. When a pole-vaulter jumps, we always expect him to beat Bubka’s world record and he tends to be forgotten if he doesn’t do that, even if he achieves the best performance of the year… »
Sodebo Thomas Coville (Photo by Jean Marie Liot / DPPI)
Reminder of the winners since the Ocean Records World Championship was set up:
Crewed:
2008 : Lionel Lemonchois
2007 : Franck Cammas
2006 : Bruno Peyron
2005 : Bruno Peyron
2004 : Steve Fossett
Single-handed:
2008 : Francis Joyon
2007 : Francis Joyon
2006 : Thomas Coville
2005 : Ellen MacArthur
2004 : Francis Joyon
Banque Populaire Sets Out From Ambrose Light In New York (Photo by BFBP/Team Banque Populaire)
The maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V has set out from New York to break the North Atlantic crossing record. They set out shortly after Groupama 3 and had winds of 25 – 30 knots last night as the multihull skippered by Pascal Bidégorry crossed the starting line at Ambrose Light, off New York at 00:47 min 42s, Banque Populaire V will carry a crew of 11. Pascal Bidégorry is not the only one to have chosen this window weather, since Groupama 3, holding of the title, also left New York shortly before Pascal to try to also break the record. A true duel of Titans is thus played currently on the open ocean Atlantic. Time to beat: 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes 54 seconds The delivery! One month after its arrival in the Marina from Brooklyn to New York, the maximum trimaran Banque Populaire V finally will be able show her capabilities. The North Atlantic crossing is 2925 miles for the newest of the giants. Between the lighthouse of Ambrose off New York and the finishing line between Ushant and the Cape Lizard, the time of reference to beat is 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes and 57 seconds. The weather window seems very promising. The meteorologist Marcel Van Triest thinks this is the right window for the 40 meter tri. On a course between the New World and the Old continent has challenging conditions.
Total distance defined is by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Council Record) Pascal Bidégorry was ready for this departure as the Banque Populaire V waited in New York for a month to get this weather window.
Crew List for the Record attempt
Pascal Bidégorry – skipper, shift leader
Ronan Lucas – helmsman
Kévin Escoffier – coxswain
Yvan Ravussin – shift leader
Ewen Clech – number one
Sebastien Audigane – shift leader
Florent Chastel – number one
Jean-Baptiste Le Vallant – coxswain
Emmanuel Le Borgne – coxswain
Marcel Van Triest – navigator
Pierre-Yves Moreau – number one
Xavier Revil – coxswain
Banque Populaire V (Photo by BENOIT STICHELBAUT/BFBP)
Banque Populaire V, the largest ocean racing trimaran in the world, was launched in August 2008 in Lorient (Brittany – France). Built at sites in Cherbourg, La Rochelleand Lorient, the construction of the maxi trimaran took 250 000 man hours of work, utilising a total workforce of some 170 people.
Under the leadership Pascal Bidégorry, skipper of the Banque Populaire trimarans since 2004, the crew of the Maxi Banque Populaire V embarks on an ocean records campaign ready to challenge the oceans. In 2009, with a crew of 13, it will attempt to beat the established records on the North Atlantic crossing (New York to the Lizard, England) and the Jules Verne Trophy(Ushant – Ushant via the three great capes).
Having won the Transat Jacques Vabre, been multihull world Champion in 2005 and given everything to the Route du Rhumin 2006, Pascal Bidégorry and Groupe Banque Populaire worked together to plan a future project in line with the Group’s passions and ambitions: it would have to be a maxi multihull with the potential to wash away all the current records.
Trimaran owners since 1989 Groupe Banque Populaire listens to and is in tune with their skipper’s views as they continue their investment in the challenging world of ocean racing, seeking to share their combined love of the sea and sailing adventures with the widest possible audience, reflecting their a spirit of adventure, team work and bravery.
In detail:
The Groupe Banque Populaire gave the green light in April 2006.
Since then the skipper has scarcely had a moments respite. He has surrounded himself with leading experts and built a strong team of twenty-one professionals, all specialists in their respective fields.
With the express agreement and involvement of Banque Populaire, the team elect to work with the renowned designers Van Peteghem – Lauriot Prévost (VPLP).
For VPLP, the challenge consisted of designing a fully crewed, no compromise multihull, which is totally versatile but very high-performing, suitable for a mixed programme, which is always seaworthy but cutting edge and progressive, but which always preserves the safety of the crew on board.
The Maxi Banque Populaire V is conceived – to date, it is the biggest ocean racing trimaran, sailed by a highly experienced team, skippered by Pascal Bidégorry, ready to let rip on the seven oceans and challenged by the most prestigious seafaring sailing programme.
Pascal Bidégorry and his associate Ronan Lucas, the Director of the Team Banque Populaire, sought a design centred around a very specific idea:
“We wanted a big boat which would be able to sail fast safely but with a range of speeds, all that we knew we could master from a technological point of view”.
Four months of research jointly carried out by the Team’s Design Office, the designers, the build teams and the Groupe Banque Populaire and skipper Pascal Bidégorry settle on building on a 40-metre (131 feet) trimaran.
At the same time the designers in charge of the construction of the beams and the final assembly is entrusted to the boatyard CDK Technologies, in itself requiring a warehouse big enough to accommodate the giant of the seas, Keroman Technologies in Lorient.
In January 2007, the Cherbourg shipyard JMV Industries starts on the construction of the central hull and particularly the mould, which is completed in May. At the beginning of September, the two half shells of the main element of this superb machine are assembled, finally revealing the futuristic lines of the Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire V.
On October 1st 2007, departing from Cherbourg-Octeville, a trailer almost 50 metres in length takes to the road to bring the central hull to Lorient. The delivery alone takes 24 hours. But, a year after the official presentation of the project and following nine months of research, the main part of Banque Populaire V arrives at Keroman Technologies at JMV Industries. Between the assembly of the aft cross beam built at CDK Technologies in Port-La-Fôret, and the arrival of the outer hulls, the team will have to wait until the beginning of 2008 to see all the pieces of the puzzle assembled in Lorient.
On August 26th 2008, at the end of a delicate operation expertly led by the whole Banque Populaire Team and the Keroman Technologies Boatyard, the Maxi Banque Populaire V meets water for the first time. The launch, carried out without a hitch, is immediately followed by the placing of the mast and by the delivery under engine of the newborn towards its receiving pontoon in Lorient harbour. A series of resistance tests follow over the next two weeks in order to get a feel of the machine’s structure and tolerance of the forces to be encountered at sea.
On September 9th 2008, exactly two weeks after its launch, the Maxi Banque Populaire V takes to the open sea on the first of a long and successful series of navigations. Sea trial after sea trial the ocean-going maxi trimaran improves, and the team completes and puts the finishing touches to the boat’s adjustments, each and every one of these sea trials proved as productive as exciting. In the course of these experiences, the Dream Teamput together for the records by Pascal Bidégorry also takes the shape of a fine talented crew composed of twelve men behind a happy skipper. The men on board the latest of the Giants class, Ronan Lucas, Marcel Van Triest, Yvan Ravussin, Kévin Escoffier, Ewen Le Clech, Sébastien Audigane, Yann Eliès, Florent Chastel, Emmanuel Le Borgne, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant and Pierre Yves Moreau form the ideal team to tackle the race against time.
On September 14th 2009 the Maxi Banque Populaire V men leave their Brittany base for the first time on a long offshore sea trial aimed not only at deepening their knowledge of the boat but also at rallying to Cadiz-Puerto Sherry, stand-by port of the Discovery Route, first of the record attempts on the Team’s programme. In spite of two months of waiting, no weather window deigns to open for the sailors, who patiently await better conditions and make the most of each and every moment to further discover the maxi trimaran and to gain time for their preparation in view of the main event on the 2009-2010 calendar: the Jules Verne Trophy.
, a new chapter begins in the Maxi Banque Populaire V’s book of records. In a few days, Pascal Bidégorry and his twelve crewmen will set sail for the United States, their sights set on achieving a new reference time for the North Atlantic crossing. As from June 18th and as soon as the weather permits, the Team Banque Populaire will set sail towards New York on an attempt to reduce the 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes and 53 seconds of the record. The stopwatch will go off on the finish line set between Ushant and Cape Lizard, revealing whether the maxi trimaran built by the Sailing Bank is to write a first line in its race against time, the beginning of a story that will reach the main plot with the Jules Verne Trophy starting next winter…
