Please select your home edition
Edition
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline LEADERBOARD
Product Feature
Seldén PBB60 CHEEK BLOCK
Seldén PBB60 CHEEK BLOCK

Yann Guichard explains Spindrift 2 stopping its attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy

by Spindrift racing 5 Dec 2019 15:52 GMT
Spindrift 2 stops its attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy © Chris Schmid / Spindrift racing

At about 19:00 (French time) on Thursday, December 4, Spindrift 2 lost control of its steering. The windward rudder was unable to operate correctly once the boat speed went beyond 35-40 knots, resulting in the black and gold trimaran being unable to stay on course.

These issues are in line with problems detected a few weeks ago, which had resulted in erratic performance of the appendages.

"We seem to have had rudder issues for a year now. We broke one in the Indian Ocean last February and, as a result, decided to build two new ones. We had delivery of them in late September, and have carried out several sea trials with them. We thought we had sorted the issue when we left La Trinité-sur-Mer on Tuesday, however these rudders are like a 'sword of Damocles'. The favourable weather conditions around the start at Ushant, gave us the opportunity to check their reliability one last time, before heading into the Southern Ocean," report Yann Guichard on the phone from Spindrift 2 this afternoon.

"We tried a number of times to solve the problem, but it keeps reappearing at high speeds and we can not control Spindrift 2, even with two crew on the helm. It is not prudent to continue like this, because there is a risk of total loss of the trimaran at high speed, which in turn is a not only a risk to the crew but the steering system could become severely compromised. Though we have managed to regain control of the boat now, we cannot race around the world with this technical problem... "

The reality is that if Spindrift 2 cannot sail with confidence above 35 knots of speed, there is little chance of improving on the existing reference time for the Jules Verne Trophy, which stands at 40d 23h 30 '30'. Spindrift 2 had already hooked into the Portuguese trade winds and was in manageable seas with about 25 knots of wind further underlining that, even in benign the conditions, the situation would not improve, however much the crew intervened.

"We are now heading back towards La Trinité-sur-Mer in a moderate easterly wind, but will go through a ridge of depression tonight. We will wait for the winds to abate before entering the channel and we should be back on the pontoon on Friday evening. Given the problems we have to solve, at the moment, I do not think it is realistic to leave this year for an attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy. This is a massive disappointment for the whole team because we had found a good weather window to leave." Concluded the skipper of Spindrift 2.

Related Articles

Sails of Change takes on the North Atlantic record
Yann Guichard and his 11-strong crew set out from New York today Yann Guichard and his 11-strong crew arrived in the United States the day before to take advantage of a favourable weather window. In their sights is the record set by Pascal Bidegorry aboard the same boat in August 2009. Posted on 27 Jul 2023
Sails of Change set for Jules Verne Trophy attempt
Yann Guichard, Dona Bertarelli and nine other sailors make up the crew Yann Guichard, Dona Bertarelli and nine other sailors will make up the crew of 'Sails of Change' for their next attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy, an award for the fastest non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the world. Posted on 12 Oct 2022
New record targets and Director for Spindrift
The arrival of Sébastien Duclos as Executive Director On the menu is a second participation in the TF35 circuit and four standby periods with their maxi-trimaran Sails of Change to make a fresh bid for different records, including the Jules Verne Trophy. Posted on 25 Feb 2022
End of Jules Verne standby for Sails of Change
There has not been a suitable weather window for the record attempt On November 1st, 2021, Dona Bertarelli, Yann Guichard and their team began the standby for a fourth attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy around-the-world sailing record. Since this date, there has not been a suitable weather window. Posted on 1 Feb 2022
JVT: A Thursday start for Sails of Change
A fresh Jules Verne Trophy record attempt Dona Bertarelli, Yann Guichard and their nine crew will begin a fresh Jules Verne Trophy record attempt this Thursday. Posted on 24 Nov 2021
Sails of Change to set sail on Jules Verne Trophy
Dona, Yann and their crew to set sail on a fossil fuel-free attempt Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard are once more set to take on the Jules Verne Trophy, held since 2017 by Francis Joyon and his crew in a time of 40d 23h 30' 30". Posted on 14 Oct 2021
Spindrift 2 forced to abandon JVT record attempt
Damaged steering system makes boat unsafe to be sailed in heavy weather conditions At 20h UTC, Yann Guichard, Spindrift 2's skipper, made the decision to turn around and end the current Jules Verne Trophy record attempt. Posted on 4 Dec 2019
Spindrift 2 starts Jules Verne Trophy attempt
A 21,600 miles around the world record attempt Spindrift 2 crossed the start line of the Jules Verne Trophy on Tuesday 3, December 2019 at 20h 55' 54" UTC to begin their 21,600 miles around the world record attempt. Posted on 4 Dec 2019
Spindrift 2 leaves for Jules Verne Trophy
Some emotional scenes as 12 crew said their goodbyes Yann Guichard and his eleven crew left the dock in La Trinité-sur-Mer today (Tuesday) at 1130hCET to make their way to the start line of the Jules Verne Trophy. Posted on 3 Dec 2019
Spindrift 2 set for Jules Verne Trophy attempt
The reference time is the current record set by Francis Joyon Spindrift 2 is preparing for a new attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy, the round the world record that starts and finishes in Ushant, leaving the three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin, Horn) to port. Posted on 2 Dec 2019