Unsuccessful attempts since 2015 for Spindrift
Since 2015, the Spindrift team has been trying to win the Jules Verne Trophy. For this new attempt, Yann Guichard and his wife Dona Bertarelli will be accompanied by a crew of 9 people, guided by the router Jean-Yves Bernot. Their boat, Sails of Change, is a 37 m long and 23 m wide maxi-trimaran launched in 2008. It is also the former holder of the Jules Verne Trophy from 2012 to 2017. Too long to belong to the Ultim 32/23 Class, her last race dates back to the 2014 Route du Rhum, on which Yann Guichard finished second. The trimaran is on stand-by in Brest since October 24, 2022.
Sails of Change crew for the 2022 Jules Verne Trophy
- Yann Guichard, skipper
- Dona Bertarelli, reporter on board
- Benjamin Schwartz, navigator
- Xavier Revil, shift supervisor
- Jacques Guichard, shift supervisor
- Thierry Chabagny, watch leader
- Grégory Gendron, helmsman / trimmer
- Julien Villion, helmsman / trimmer
- Pierre Leboucher, number 1
- Christopher Pratt, Helmsman / Trimmer
- Clément Giraud, number 1
- Jean-Yves Bernot, router on land
Two attempts, two breakdowns for Gitana
In 2020 and a few months later in 2021, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild tried to become the fastest sailing boat around the world. But both attempts ended in abandonment. As soon as he won the 2022 Route du Rhum, Charles Caudrelier saw his maxi-trimaran set sail again towards Lorient to prepare for a new Jules Verne Trophy record attempt.
From 2019 to 2021, the duo of skippers Cammas - Caudrelier have won almost everything! Five victories out of six, double-handed or with a crew! For this new attempt, it is with the same crew of 6 sailors that they will set off again, after a stand-by period starting mid-December on their boat, the first truly flying Ultim launched in 2017.
Crew of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild for the 2022 Jules Verne Trophy
- Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, skippers
- David Boileau, No. 1 setter
- Erwan Israël, helmsman
- Morgan Lagravière, helmsman
- Yann Riou, mediaman setter
The birth of the Jules Verne Trophy
The Jules Verne Trophy consists in sailing around the world, non-stop and without assistance, with a crew. A tribute to Jules Verne, whose name it bears, this challenge inspired by great races consists in completing the loop in less than 80 days.
Conceived by several great sailors of the time in 1990, including Titouan Lamazou and Florence Arthaud, the Jules Verne should make it possible to design boats without size limits, at a time when most races are limited to 60-foot units. For the course, it will be a question of going around the globe, from east to west, leaving the three capes, Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn, to port. The start and finish will be given from an imaginary line between the Lizard Cape, in England, and the island of Ouessant, in France. Each performance will be timed by the WSSRC, the organization in charge of certifying the best sailing times.
The Jules Verne Trophy was officially launched on October 20, 1992, in the salons of the Yacht-Club de France. The first winner, Bruno Peyron, won the famous Trophy in 1993 after a 79-day circumnavigation. Since then, this time has continued to improve and the title holder since 2017 is none other than Francis Joyon, on his Ultim Idec Sport . With a crew of 6 people, Idec Sport took 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds to complete the course.
Since then, several have attempted the challenge, Sodebo Ultim, but also the teams of Spindrift and Gitana are chasing this famous Trophy, which is still being sought after. In the autumn of 2022, the maxi trimaran Sails of Change and the Maxi Edmond de Rotschild will again try their luck.
