Joyon Reclaims Route of Discovery

Francis Joyon sailed his 97-ft Irens/Cabaret trimaran IDEC 2 into San Salvador a little after 6 p.m. last night, reclaiming his singlehanded Route of Discovery record by a margin of just over 15 hours. Sailing at an average speed of 16.4 knots, he covered the 3,885-mile course in 9d, 20h, and 35m, despite being nearly becalmed in his approach to the finish.

For now, the tit-for-tat between between Joyon and previous record holder Thomas Coville is even. In 2005 Coville took the singlehanded route of Discovery record with his ‘old’ boat, the ORMA 60 Sodeb’O, from Joyon’s old IDEC. Earlier this summer, Coville sailed his 105-ft maxi trimaran Sodeb’O to the singlehanded west-east transatlantic record, breaking Joyon’s 2004 mark. Coville meanwhile, is preparing for an imminent assault on Joyon’s 57d, 13h ’round-the-world mark.

Last year a collision with an unidentified floating object dashed Coville’s pursuit of Joyon’s blazing pace. This year, he’ll have to watch out for boats! Coville will be dodging the 30-strong fleet starting the Vendeé Globe, the six boats sailing the Portimão Global Ocean race, and possibly even the eight boats in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet. The only boat on the water that’ll be faster than Sodeb’O will be Pascal Bidegorry’s new 140-ft VPLP designed trimaran Banque Populaire which will be hunting the fully-crewed outright ’round-the-world record.