The maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V has set out from New York to break the North Atlantic crossing record. They set out shortly after Groupama 3 and had winds of 25 – 30 knots last night as the multihull skippered by Pascal Bidégorry crossed the starting line at Ambrose Light, off New York at 00:47 min 42s, Banque Populaire V will carry a crew of 11. Pascal Bidégorry is not the only one to have chosen this window weather, since Groupama 3, holding of the title, also left New York shortly before Pascal to try to also break the record. A true duel of Titans is thus played currently on the open ocean Atlantic. Time to beat: 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes 54 seconds The delivery! One month after its arrival in the Marina from Brooklyn to New York, the maximum trimaran Banque Populaire V finally will be able show her capabilities. The North Atlantic crossing is 2925 miles for the newest of the giants. Between the lighthouse of Ambrose off New York and the finishing line between Ushant and the Cape Lizard, the time of reference to beat is 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes and 57 seconds. The weather window seems very promising. The meteorologist Marcel Van Triest thinks this is the right window for the 40 meter tri. On a course between the New World and the Old continent has challenging conditions.
Total distance defined is by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Council Record) Pascal Bidégorry was ready for this departure as the Banque Populaire V waited in New York for a month to get this weather window.
Crew List for the Record attempt
Pascal Bidégorry – skipper, shift leader
Ronan Lucas – helmsman
Kévin Escoffier – coxswain
Yvan Ravussin – shift leader
Ewen Clech – number one
Sebastien Audigane – shift leader
Florent Chastel – number one
Jean-Baptiste Le Vallant – coxswain
Emmanuel Le Borgne – coxswain
Marcel Van Triest – navigator
Pierre-Yves Moreau – number one
Xavier Revil – coxswain