The project: Break the Jules Verne Trophy record
Pascal Bidégorry, at the time skipper of Banque Populaire, achieved great performances in 2005/2006: Transat Jacques Vabre, multihull world champion in 2005 and 2 e place in the 2006 Route du Rhum. The sailor and the sponsor then embarked on the construction of a maxi multihull, capable of beating the current records.
This project corresponds totally to the investment that Banque Populaire wishes to make in the world of ocean racing. The project was validated in April 2006. Pascale Bidégorry surrounded herself with the best professionals âeuros a team of 21 people âeuros to develop her trimaran.
The design of the multihull is entrusted to the architectural firm Van Peteghem âeuros Lauriot Prevost (VPLP). The specifications: to build a crewed trimaran, versatile to perform in a mixed program, reliable, scalable and ensuring the safety of the men on board. The shipyard CDK Technologies, associated with its suppliers, is in charge of the construction of the boat.
It is then the largest ocean racing trimaran ever built in the world. Her central hull is 40 m long and her floats 37 m long. Pascale Bidégorry supervises all the operations and the boat is launched on August 26, 2008, then baptized in Nantes, Jules Verne's native land, on October 4, 2008.
This is how the story of Banque Populaire V begins, the largest ocean racing trimaran, piloted by a highly experienced crew, ready to take on the seven oceans and the most prestigious offshore sailing program with its skipper Pascal Bidégorry.
Characteristics of the trimaran Banque Populaire V
The Maxi Banque Populaire V is the result of a "reasoned" and "reasonable" project The ratios between hull length and mast height on the one hand, and between size and displacement (weight) on the other, show that the giant trimaran, with less canvas, has a significant safety margin. The demonstration of this philosophy was made during the decision to make modifications following the capsizing of Groupama 3 in its Jules Verne Trophy record attempt during the winter of 2007/2008.
First sailing of the Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V - credit: Y.Zedda/BFBP
we could have designed a 45 or 50-meter trimaran," admits Vincent Lauriot-Prevost, "but we wanted to stay within the limits that we control The objective of the project was to design a very fast trimaran in very light to medium wind conditions at all points of sail, while favoring its ability to reach sustained average speeds in heavy seas.
Technical characteristics
| Name | Maxi Banque Populaire V |
| Type | Maxi trimaran oceanic |
| Length of the central shell | 40 m |
| Length of the floats | 37 m |
| Width | 23 m |
| Moving | 23 tons |
| Draft | 5,80 m |
| Air draft | 47 m |
| 80 tons of pressure at the foot of the mast | |
| Winches capable of withstanding tensions of over 14 tons | |
| Curved foils | 300 kg |
| Mainsail | 450 m2 |
| Gennaker | 6150 m2 |
| Solent | 270 m2 |
| Sponsor | Jacques Perrin âeuros Actor, producer, director |
The first records
One year after its launch, Pascal Bidégorry and his 12-man crew broke the North Atlantic Crossing Record (New York to Lizard Point) in 3 days 15 hours 25 minutes 48 seconds on August 2, 2009. They improved on the time achieved by Franck Cammas in 2007, by 12 hours 32 minutes and 06 seconds.
On this same record (1 er august 2009), the sailors also set a new 24-hour crew speed record after covering the impressive distance of 908 miles at an average speed of 37.8 knots.
Convoy Lorient / Brest -Stand by Jules Verne Trophy - December 11th 2009
On stand-by since the beginning of November 2009, the sailor and his crew wanted to attempt the Jules Verne Trophy, but in the absence of a favorable weather window, it was cancelled.
On May 16, 2010, Banque Populaire V broke the Mediterranean Record (Marseille to Carthage) with 455 miles in 14 hours, 20 minutes and 34 seconds.
In 2010, Pascal Bidégorry and his white and blue maxi-trimaran are trying again for the Jules Verne Trophy. With a stand-by at the beginning of November, Banque Populaire V set off, but was forced to abandon following damage to the daggerboard.
The maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V on stand-by in New York
The break between Pascal Bidégorry and Banque Populaire
At the beginning of April 2011, Banque Populaire V announced in a short press release that it had put an end to its joint adventure with its skipper. "After 7 years of fruitful cooperation, Team Banque Populaire and Pascal Bidégorry are ending their collaboration as of today due to a divergence on the future sporting strategy of the Banque Populaire brand in sailing."
Record of the Mediterranean Crossing in 2010
Was it the failure on the Jules Verne Trophy that put an end to the collaboration between the sponsor and the sailor? No doubt, but it is not the only reason, since a difference of opinion between Pascal Bidégorry and the sailing bank appeared when the latter decided to buy Michel Desjoyeaux's 60-foot Foncia to participate in the next Vendée Globe. But the Basque did not want to steer it, so Armel le Cléac'h was approached.
Loïck Peyron, substitute skipper
It is therefore Loïck Peyron who is taking over the helm of the maxi-trimaran, with the Jules Verne Trophy still in his sights.
On July 8, 2011, the new skipper, won the record for the Tour of the British Isles, in 3 days, 3 hours and 49 minutes. The same year, he won the Rolex Fastnet Race in 32 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.
Start of the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2011
Finally, on January 6, 2012, Loïck Peyron and his 13 crew members added their name to the list of winners of the most prestigious crewed round-the-world sailing race in 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes, achieved at an average speed of 19.75 knots.
2012 Jules Verne Trophy - Crédit BPCE
