Four years after Francis Joyon on Idec Sport, two new crews have embarked on the quest for the Jules Verne Trophy. The competition is likely to be intense between Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) and Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild).
Alongside the 32 skippers competing single-handed around the planet in the Vendée Globe, two crews have set off on a crewed round the world voyage, the famous Jules Verne Trophy, whose reference time of 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds has been held since January 2017 by Idec Sport (Francis Joyon).
The first of the crews to leave Lorient on Tuesday 24th November at 02:55 is Sodebo Ultim 3, led by Thomas Coville. The sailor has surrounded himself with a crew of seven sailors, comprising François Duguet, Sam Goodchild, Corentin Horeau, Martin Keruzoré, François Morvan, Thomas Rouxel and Matthieu Vandame.
To spice up the race a little, there will be two of them trying to break the record. Indeed the Maxi Edmond de Rotschild, led by the pair Franck Cammas/Charles Caudrelier also set off forty minutes after her rival. Setting out from Lorient on the same day, the six sailors crossed the start line off Ushant at 03:26 hours. To accompany them on this round the world voyage, the skippers of the Ultime de l'écurie Gitana are accompanied by Morgan Lagravière, Erwan Israël, Yann Riou and David Boileau.
Although the two trimarans are currently sailing neck and neck, the second crew has taken a slight lead of nearly 23 miles. In an attempt to become the 10th crew to improve on the Jules Verne Trophy reference time, Sodebo Ultim 3 must reach Ushant before 5th January 2021, at their respective start times.
