Back to Lorient
The Gitana team announced shortly before midnight that the five-arrowed trimaran was returning to Lorient to repair a damaged generator. Although the generator is not used to propel the boat, it is nevertheless used to power the batteries, and therefore to ensure autonomy at sea during the round-the-world race. The six crewmen hope to repair it quickly to wait for a new weather window as soon as possible. As a reminder, the stand-by period for Charles Caudrelier, Franck Cammas and their four crew members will end at the end of February, beginning of March 2023.
Breaking the 40-day record
On standby since the beginning of the winter, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crossed the Jules Verne Trophy line this Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 14h 9min 30s. The six men will attempt to beat the record of 40 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes set in 2017 by Francis Joyon on Idec Sport. If they want to win, they will have to be back before March 25, 2023 at 13h 38min 59s.
An atypical weather window
Since Friday, February 10, the team and its router Marcel Van Triest have been studying the weather windows to consider a Jules Verne Trophy start. Although the weather window is atypical, the men of the Gitana team have decided to take the start. Charles Caudrelier explains: "if we have a very precise idea of what can happen in the North Atlantic, it is less the case in the South Atlantic. A low-pressure system south of Brazil is a bit uncertain depending on the models."
The crew will have to rely on a bit of luck and good weather sequences after an upwind start and a front to look for the next day. In case the weather is less favorable afterwards, the crew reserves the right to turn back to the latitude of the Canaries to find a better window at the tip of Brittany.
A 3rd attempt for the Maxi Edmond de Rotschild
After two aborted campaigns in 2020 and 2021, this is the third campaign for the team's blue and white trimaran. For this new attempt, Charles Caudrelier and Franck Cammas are accompanied by Morgan Lagravière, David Boileau, Erwan Israël and Yann Riou, who will be taking the images.
