Banque Populaire V 1000 Miles Ahead

After only 10d and 10h, Loick Peyron’s 131-ft trimaran Banque Populaire V has already opened up a 1000-mile lead over the reference time of the current Jules Verne Trophy holder, Franck Cammas’ Groupama 3. Needing to arrive back at  Ushant in under 48d, 7h to beat the latter’s record, Peyron and his band of offshore multihull all-stars are already well on their way. Having already seen their first albatross at their present latitude of 43°S, the crew expect to pass within sight of the Cape of Good Hope on Sunday.

Banque Populaire has been tearing up the ocean since beginning their attempt, but have put up some serious gains aginst the record time in the past couple of days, averaging 30- to 35-knots of boatspeed in about the same amount of breeze with two reefs and a staysail! Despite his experience, Peyron — a multiple circumnavigator with 43 Atlantic crossings — said he feels like a newbie in some ways.

"There’s always a little excitement to arrive at the 40th and 50th parallels," Peyron said. "The rookies on board are well surrounded by the old hands. Even after several trips, sailing around the world is an eternal renewal. It never sets up the same way. From memory, I had never topped 700 miles in 24 hours as we have just done. I’m finally a rookie myself again in a lot of areas!"