Thomas Coville and the crew of Sodebo Ultim 3 (François Duguet, Sam Goodchild, Corentin Horeau, Martin Keruzoré, François Morvan, Thomas Rouxel and Matthieu Vandame) crossed the equator this Monday at 12:45 after 5 days 9 hours and 50 minutes of race in the Jules-Verne Trophy, the crewed round-the-world record.
Departing last Wednesday night, Coville and his men hit the southern hemisphere with 9 hours and 21 minutes ahead of the record-holding boat, Idec Sport.
[ECUADOR]
Starting last Wednesday at 2:55 am to attack the @TJV_officiel, # SodeboUltim3 crossed the equator on Monday at 12:45 am after 5 days 9 hrs and 50 minutes at sea, ahead of the record holder.
More info: https://t.co/pxbNhfKR23pic.twitter.com/bAv3DiLM6U
- Sodebo Voile (@Sodebo_Voile) November 30, 2020
"Hell
"
of the Doldrums behind them
In 2017, Francis Joyon and his men completed their world tour in 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds.
Coville and his gang will have to be back in Brest no later than January 5 to beat him.
Arrived at the Doldrums launched at full speed, the crew experienced a hell of a brake in this tricky area, true to its reputation.
“It was complicated, recognized Thomas Rouxel on Sunday.
At the beginning, we believed in it, we managed to easily go through the entire first phase that we saw very active.
On the other hand behind, while we expected to touch the southern trade winds to advance towards Brazil, we found ourselves with very little wind in the middle of the axis, to tack;
we did I don't know how many tackings with squalls, it was hell, we lost a lot of time. "
The maxi-trimaran launched in 2019 regained speed last night and was spinning at just under 20 knots on Monday.
Remember that his competitor Edmond de Rothschild, helmed by Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, turned around on Saturday night after hitting an ofni.
Having left just a few hours after Sodebo, the members of the Gitana Team hope to repair quickly so that they can start an attempt again this winter.
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Jules-Verne Trophy: Cammas, Caudrelier and their crew already turn around after hitting an ofni
