Banque Populaire On Standby For Jules Verne Record Attempt

Banque Populaire V On Standby (Photo by BPCE/Benoit Stichelbaut)

It has been a bit more than a year since the Maxi Banque Populaire V has been launched and this incredible multihull is now ready to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy. After having triumphed over the Atlantic and on the 24 hour distance, Pascal Bidégorry and his crew are now prepared to set off and steal Bruno Peyron’s record established in 2005 aboard the maxi catamaran Orange 2. From now on, the skipper of Maxi Banque Populaire V and his Team scrutinize any weather opportunity to undertake this circumnavigation around the globe in less than 50 days, 16 hours and 20 minutes.

In time and in good shape! After a two month refit and one month of training and of physical preparation, Pascal Bidégorry is a satisfied and confident skipper: “I’m so glad to be here, with everything we have accomplished. I am really pleased and appreciate the work achieved by the whole Team of Banque Populaire. We just took the appropriate time to reach the right level of preparation and we actually fully comply with the planning” explained Pascal. They are even ahead of schedule with the stand-by mode being announced 3 days before the planned date. The skipper carried on: “we have tried in recent weeks to step back from everything that can happen on board and all our embedded systems. We knew they were effective but there were still some issues to solve in the perspective of sailing around the world on this boat. Today, I feel everybody serene.”

Entering the SouthAccording to Pascal, in order to determine the best weather window, it is paramount to reach the roaring forties as quickly as possible, which means exit the Bay of Biscay quickly, then cross the Doldrums and go through the St Helen highs without having to divert. “We are trying to get a long term overview of the conditions to get into the south. Being ahead of Orange 2 is what really matters to us, and not only at the Doldrums. Nonetheless, weather forecasts in the southern hemisphere are actually very complex and not that interesting.” After Groupama 3’s departure last week on it attempt to break the record, Pascal and his team had a closer look at the expected conditions. “The window they have selected was not inspiring us that much” clarified Pascal. “We did not see any hurry in leaving that quickly especially as weather systems in the South do not seem to be fairly settled. I really have no regrets in not departing together but we are indeed following Groupama 3 with great interest and analyzing the weather sequences heading south.”

Pascal Bidegorry has selected an incredible crew to attempt this record with him. Those sailors, doted of high human values and versatile experience, competitiveness and technical skills, will be joined up by Thierry Chabagny, an accomplished Figaro sailor.

From this Thursday 12 November, they are now all entering into RED code in their departure procedure. If a favorable weather window is identified, they would then switch to ORANGE code, meaning there would be a chance of departure within the next 48 to 72 hours. In the case the window is confirmed, the team then switches to GREEN code and can depart within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Maxi Banque Populaire V’s crew list

SKIPPER Pascal Bidégorry

Ronan Lucas / Technical Director
Role : Bowman
Other : in charge of security

Ewen Le Clech / Boat Captain of the Maxi Banque Populaire V
Role : Bowman
Other : in charge of the hydraulic mechanic and fittings

Kévin Escoffier / In charge of the Maxi Banque Populaire V’s design team
Role : Helmsman / Trimmer
Other : Vidéo

Yann Eliès
Role : Watch leader, Helmsman / Trimmer
Other : sails

Yvan Ravussin
Role : Watch leader Helmsman / Trimmer
Other : in charge of the video and composite

Emmanuel Le Borgne
Role : Watch leader, Helmsman / Trimmer
Other : in charge of the medical

Erwan Tabarly
Role : Helmsman / Trimmer
Other : in charge of the electronics

Pierre Yves Moreau
Role : Bowman
Other : in charge of the composite and fitting

Florent Chastel
Role : Bowman
Other : In charge of the medical and rigging

Xavier Revil
Role : Helmsman / Trimmer
Other : food on board

Thierry Chabagny
Role : Helmsman / Trimmer

Marcel Van Triest
Role : Weather Router, Navigator

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Posted by admin on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Filed under Banque Populaire V, Jules Verne Trophy, Latest News, Pascal Bidegorry · Tagged with adventure, Ambrose, Antoine Gautier, Aquitaine, Banque Populaire, Banque Populaire V, challenge, Challenge and Adventure, circumnavigate, circumnavigation, Emmanuel Le Borgne, Ewen Le Clech, Fleury Michon, Florent Chastel, Franck, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Jet Services, Kévin Escoffier, Lizard, Loïc Caradec, Marcel Van Triest, North Atlantic, North Atlantic Record, Orange II, passage, passage record, Paul Ricard, Philippe Poupon, Philippe Touet, Pierre-Yves Moreau, Ronan Lucas, Royale, Sebastien Audigane, Serge Madec, speed, speed record, Ushant, World Record, Xavier Revil, Yann Eliès, Yvan Ravussin

Pascal Bidégorry And His Crew Of 11 Men Aboard The Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire V Smashed The Transatlantic Record

Banque Populaire V During Record Crossing (Photo by Team Banque Populaire V)

Pascal Bidégorry and his crew of 11 men aboard the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V, smashed the Transatlantic Record crossing the North Atlantic,by half a day. They also broke the 24hr record with 908 miles.
Groupama 3 also broke their own record set in 2007.

THE ATLANTIC CROSSING RECORD

The first record time for sailing across the North Atlantic was established by the ATLANTIC schooner, a 56 m long three-masted vessel skippered by the famous American captain Charlie Barr in 1905, in more than 12 days. For 75 years this record was not beaten.

Eric Tabarly was to be the first person to smash it in 1980 aboard his trimaran PAUL RICARD, cutting the time to 10 days.

Marc Pajot (ELF AQUITAINE I), Patrick Morvan (JET SERVICES II), Loïc Caradec & Philippe Facques (ROYALE II), Philippe Poupon (FLEURY MICHON VIII), then Serge Madec (JET SERVICES V) each in turn reduceD the time, the latter having achieved the crossing in 6 days 13h 3mn and 32s in June 1990 at an average speed of 18.42 knots. This record was to remain in everyone’s mind, as it stood for more than 10 years.

We had to wait for the new generation of maxi-catamarans built for The Race for the record held by JET SERVICES V to be smashed. It was beaten on 10th October 2001 by the American Steve Fossett aboard his 38 m maxi-catamaran PLAYSTATION in 4 days, 17 hours, 28 mn and 6s, at an incredible average speed of 25.78 knots.

Bruno Peyron and his Orange II crew smashed Fossett’s record aboard the maxi catamaran Orange II, finishing the course from Ambrose Light near New York City to Lizard Point off the southwestern tip of Great Britain in just 4 days, 8 hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds – more than 9 hours faster than Fossett. Halfway through the 3,100 nautical mile trip, Orange II hit a submerged iceberg and broke one of its two steering rudders.

The Orange II Dream Team improved on the record set by Steve Fossett’s PlayStation by 9 hours 4 minutes and 12 seconds, a record that was said to be unbeatable.

Next was 105 foot trimaran Groupama III , in 2007
With an almost unbelievable time of 4 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes and 54 seconds, beating Bruno Peyron’s time on Orange II by almost 5 hours.

Today in 2009 that record has been shattered again.
Prelimary times until ratified are,

Groupama 3, – 3 days 18 hrs, 12 min, 58 secs – average speed 31.92 kts

Banque Populaire V,- 3 days, 15 hrs,25 min,48 secs, average speed 32.94 kts, peak speed 47.15 kts,

24 Hour Record, 908 mile, average speed of 37.8 kts
1905 – Charlie Barr – Atlantic – USA – 12d 4h 1m – 10.02 kts
1980 – Eric Tabarly – Paul Ricard – FRA – 10d 5h 14m – 11.93 kts
1981 – Marc Pajot Elf – Aquitaine – FRA – 9d 10h 6m – 12.94 kts
1984 – Patrick Morvan – Jet Services II – FRA 8d 16h 33m – 14.03 kts
1986 – Loïc Caradec – Royale II – FRA – 7d 21h 5m – 15.47 kts
1987 – Philippe Poupon – Fleury Michon VIII – FRA – 7d 12h 50m – 16.18 kts
1988 – Serge Madec – Jet Services V – FRA -7d 6h 30m – 16.76 kts
1990 – Serge Madec – Jet Services V – FRA – 6d 13h 3m – 18.62 kts
2001 – Steve Fossett – PlayStation – USA – 4d 17h 28m 6s – 25.78 kts
2006 – Bruno Peyron – Orange II – FRA – 4d 8h 23m 54s – 28 kts
2007 – Franck Cammas – Groupama 3 – FRA – 4d 3h 57m 54s – 29.26 kts