Alain Thébault and his team are currently in California, waiting for the perfect weather to make the Pacific crossing. At the beginning of June, the skipper of l'Hydroptère will leave Los Angeles to reach Honolulu, hoping to break the record, held until now by Olivier de Kersauson. The outspoken sailor had set the record on Geronimo in 2005, the reference time was 4 days, 19 hours and 31 minutes.
While waiting for the departure, "Der fliegende Franzose" is moored at the Los Angeles marina. Yves Parlier, a specialist in weather decoding, is studying the files to find the best shooting window for this Pacific crossing. For this trip, Alain Thébault will be accompanied by 6 crew members, from 5 nations. First of all, he can count on his loyal co-skipper since 2002, Jacques Vincent, who has 29 transatlantic races and 8 round-the-world races to his credit, including two Jules Verne Trophies, three Withbreads, a Volvo Ocean Race, the Oryx Quest and The Race. His other crew members will come from England, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. The winner of the last America's Cup on the AC72, the Australian James Spithill will also be there. He was won over by a sailing experience in 2012 on the hydrofoil.
"Recently we have had difficulties in financing the project, I had to sell my house to keep the adventure going but new partners are joining us, especially in California, land of pioneers and entrepreneurs. We are going to try to fly over the swell at high speed and to clear again with humility. My determination is total. We have opened the way on sheltered waters followed by the America's Cup sailboats, now we have to open the way on the open sea for flying sailboats, which is very complex on the swell" said Alain Thébault.
A record, but not thatâeuros¦
After flying around a tsunami debris field the size of Texas, the sailors will join Bertrand Piccard of Solar Impulse, the solar-powered airplane that is currently flying around the world. Both men carry the same message "Use Clean Energy" and are supported by the Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation. Thanks to this support, Alain Thébault will finally be able to leave for Hawaii.
This crossing will also be an opportunity to make a film to denounce the pollution of the Pacific, littered with garbage and other plastic waste. This film will be made in collaboration with the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute and with the help of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which works in France on these issues that will impact future generations.
The fastest trimaran on the planet
The Hydroptère is a high-tech hydrofoil trimaran, combining advanced aeronautical techniques and marine engineering. From a speed of 10 knots, the foils, which are tilted in the water at 45°, allow the boat to take off and propel it at high speed. Being in contact with the water for only 2.5 cm, it is able to go from 20 to 45 knots (37 to 83 km/h) in 10 seconds.
On December 21, 2008, l'Hydroptère was the first sailboat to pass the 50-knot mark under sail, the famous wind wall, i.e. 92.6 km/h, and then the 100 km/h mark with a peak of 56.3 knots (104 km/h).
