Gitana 13 Blasting Toward Yokohama

It took us about a week to get over the post-sail bliss from our once-in-a-lifetime trip aboard Gitana 13 last week. Yesterday we stifled a residual giggle and checked in to see how their attempt at the San Francisco to Yokohama record was progressing. We pulled up the chart on their website, and uttered a "Sacré Bleu!" when we realized they were already 500 miles northwest of Hawaii after just five days of sailing — they’ve averaged just over 21 knots!

Now before you say, "Well, duh, it’s a G-Cat," keep in mind that Gitana 13 now has a lead of more than 500 miles over current record holder, Olivier de Kersauson’s Geronimo. "These past 24 hours have been idyllic," reported crewman Nicolas Reynaud. "The surfs seemed to go on forever and would likely make even the most blasé of surfers green with envy."

The Gitana sailors have been able to sail a more direct route, and now look set to extend their lead on the way to Yokohama, despite a high-pressure ridge developing in their path.

In other, less auspicious large-multihull news, Alinghi’s sailing team moved up to Lorient, France, last week to get some private lessons from multihull master Alain Gautier. On Saturday the team was out practicing with Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird at the helm of Gautier’s Orma 60 Foncia when the big trimaran capsized, breaking both the mast and aft cross-beam. No one was seriously hurt but can you say "Awkward"?