SVR-Lazartigue trimaran has set off on Jules Verne Trophy quest - Live onboard video
by Sodebo media 30 Nov 13:37 GMT
SVR Lazartigue depart for Jules Verne record attempt - November 30, 2024 © Clement Gerbaud
With a crew of five men and one woman, the SVR-Lazartigue Trimaran, skippered by François Gabart, began its attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy this Saturday, the record for a crewed round-the-world trip, non-stop and without assistance.
After a night of observing weather files, the starting line drawn between the Créac'h lighthouse on the island of Ouessant and the Lizard Point Lighthouse was crossed on Saturday at 7:51:38 (UTC). The goal was to return before 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds, the record set in 2017 by Francis Joyon and his team.
"At the beginning of January!" François Gabart set the date. On Friday, early in the afternoon, the six sailors cast off in Concarneau, the home port of the SVR-Lazartigue Trimaran, in front of a large crowd that came to say goodbye.
With a lot of emotion. Of course. After a night spent near the starting line observing the weather files in order to optimize the time to start the timer, the trimaran set off at 7:51:38 (UTC ) . Already holder of the record for the solo round the world in 42 days (December 2027), François Gabart and his crew began the ultimate challenge: trying to win the most legendary sailing record, the Grail. Winning the Jules Verne Trophy means becoming the fastest boat around the planet and writing one of the most beautiful pages in the history of ocean racing.
Since the official standby was put in place on Monday 18 November, all eyes have been watching the evolution of the weather conditions in the North Atlantic. With the hope of seeing a favourable window open to launch this incredible challenge. It opened at the end of the week. "There is something to try," noted François Gabart. "It will be a close-hauled start in a strong wind and especially a very rough sea. Once these tough conditions have been crossed, it goes very well all the way to the equator and even further."
The orange code (start possible within 72 hours) had been activated on Thursday. Then the orange changed to green (start imminent) this Friday, mid-morning. "We have a window that is not easy but records are made to be attempted ," commented the skipper. I am very happy to be able to attempt this record with this team and this boat. It is the fruit of all these years' work. To succeed in this challenge, you need a good boat and we have it with the SVR-Lazartigue Trimaran. It has potential and is reaching maturity. You also need a good team and we have it too, whether it's the crew on board or the team on land, without forgetting a bit of luck and we're going to do everything we can to seize it. Even if I will continue to sail, this is probably my last round the world race or record, and I'm very happy to do it in these conditions. We know that there will inevitably be some breakage, I just hope it's minor breakage. You can't sail around the world without having some minor problems. You'll have to be able to manage them to maintain the boat's performance. It would be extraordinary to go under the 40-day mark. The goal is to sail the SVR-Lazartigue Trimaran from the beginning to the end of this round the world. If we succeed, we will have fulfilled our mission."
Having set off on Sunday 10 November, the IMOCA fleet in the Vendée Globe could well see the big blue boat pass by. "If we are in the record range, it's likely," confirms the skipper. "After following the race on land, we will follow it at sea. Even if the Vendée Globe sailors set off quickly, there is a chance that we will overtake them in the southern seas or in the South Atlantic on the way back. It's nice to see that there are lots of things happening at the moment in offshore racing around the planet."
Having set off a little less than a year ago solo on the SVR-Lazartigue Trimaran in the Arkéa Ultime Challenge (the first solo round the world race for the Ultims), but forced to give up following a major breakdown in the South Atlantic, Tom Laperche is also delighted with this new start . "Last winter, the round the world race ended too early ," he notes. " It's great to set off again with a crew. This Jules Verne Trophy represents one of the historic challenges of sailing, it is very important in an ocean racing career. I have incredible memories of the southern seas, so going back there with a crew is inspiring. The six of us form a great team with the desire to go as fast as possible around the planet. The boat was designed for that. In ocean racing, there is always the dilemma between wanting to press the accelerator and managing the boat. It's up to us to be good at strategy and to know when it's worth going very fast. It's a human adventure, but we also have to manage the mechanics over 40 days on the scale of nature and the planet. We're setting off to sail flat out in balance on the oceans for 40 days. We're even hoping for a little less..." To achieve this, we'll have to come back before Friday, January 10, 2025 at 7:51:38 (UTC).
“This record format is very special because we went to bed on Thursday night without knowing that we were going to leave. On Friday morning, we had breakfast while wondering about leaving and the decision was made at the end of the morning. I wondered how I was going to react and in the end, it’s really exciting. We were lucky not to have to wait too long since the start of the standby. Win mode is activated in our heads. We are 100% in the spirit of the record but it’s certain that if in a few days, the files show that the conditions are no longer favorable, then we will have to agree to try our luck again later and not stupidly persist with a bad option. But for the moment, the option is well and truly open.
Forty days for a round the world race is very fast but the SVR Lazartigue Trimaran has everything it needs to succeed. It’s very fast. We have a great tool in our hands and we will have to take good care of it and exploit its full potential. The team is also perfectly designed for this record. François has thought carefully about its constitution and everything has been very fluid since the beginning of the preparation. The closer the start has gotten, the more I have measured the luck that it represents and the height of the challenge that we have to honor. I can't wait!