Not Your Typical Boat Rental

Renaud Laplanche and Ryan Breymaier brought new meaning to the rent-a-boat concept. During their six-month rental of the 105-ft VPLP maxi-tri Lending Club 2, they challenged and shattered three prestigious sailing records — most notably here on the West Coast, the outright Los Angeles-to-Honolulu record, with the jaw-dropping time of 3 days and 19 hours. 

Previously the pair and their crewmates smashed both the Newport-Bermuda and Cowes, GBR-to-Dinard, FRA, records. (In previous incarnations, this boat sailed as Banque Populaire VII and Groupama 3.)

"From the start we agreed we would have an open-door policy," said Breymaier in a statement last week, "and whenever possible we made the boat available for visits at the dock. Our skipper, Renaud, invited all the Lending Club employees to come sailing, and over 1000 of them took him up on the offer. We took children from sailing schools and students from all backgrounds, and as young as five and six years old. We took hundreds of Lending Club guests and business partners in both New York and San Francisco. Everyone without exception had the opportunity to drive the boat if they wanted to and everyone came back to shore with a huge smile and an unforgettable souvenir."

For a recap of the team’s remarkable half-year campaign, check out this recently released video:

Courtesy Lending Club

For more see the team’s Facebook page.