Since Magellan’s expedition, circumnavigation has inspired sailors, but the first to have covered the globe without stopovers were the solo sailors participating in the Golden Globe Race of 1968. The crewed course only began in 1993, to inaugurate the Jules Verne Trophy, held to date by Bruno Peyron in a time of fifty and a half days…
In 1985, the Jules Verne novel greatly inspired Yves Le Cornec and a few companions (Yvon Fauconnier, Florence Arthaud, Jean-François Costes,…). They refitted Eugène Riguidel’s giant trimaran, William Saurin, which did the crossing from Québec to Saint Malo at an average speed of 12.98 knots. A performance, which was enough to envisage a circumnavigation of less than 80 days… This ambitious project was as crazy as Phileas Fogg’s gamble and didn’t get off the ground due to lack of financing. It was put to the back of the cupboard of anecdotes until the arrival of the first Vendée Globe Challenge in 1989.
After Olivier de Kersauson and Philippe Monet, single-handed round the world recordmen, Titouan Lamazou shattered the course time with 109 days 8 hours and 48 minutes. This was enough to relaunch the 80 day challenge for these sailors, who just back from the Annapurna of the seas, wanted to conquer Everest!
The idea was taken up by all the great figures in sailing, with projects as vast as the three oceans they cross! In August 1990, Yvon Fauconnier played host to Jean-Yves Terlain, Loïck and Bruno Peyron, Florence Arthaud, Titouan Lamazou, Peter Blake and Robin Knox-Johnston, on the canal boat moored at the island of La Jatte… to organise an association and a start and finish point, between Lizard Point and the Créac’h lighthouse on Ushant. Recognised in sporting terms by the IYRU, morally supported by the Jules Verne Society, politically backed by the Ministers of National Education, Culture, Sports and the Sea, the “Round the World in 80 days Association” didn’t win unanimous support among the pretenders.
Finally Olivier de Kersauson was to be the first to launch himself into it as time was pressing: though Phileas Fogg wasn`t worried by weather conditions, the sailors only had one `window’ with which to leave, from November until mid-February. In great secrecy he refitted his trimaran Poulain, extended to 27 metres. British skipper Robin Knox-Johnston and Kiwi Peter Blake then bought Formule Tag, Mike Birch’s former catamaran. Latest on, Bruno Peyron modified Jet Services IV and he too set off in this winter of 1993: he was the first to descend below the 80 day barrier!
On 20th April 1993 Bruno Peyron headed a team which completed the first legendary round the world in 79 days, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 56 seconds and thus became the first crew to win the `Jules Verne Trophy’.
In seventeen years there have been twenty attempts to beat the record, only six of which have borne fruit: Bruno Peyron in 1993, Peter Blake and Robin Knox-Johnston in 1994, Olivier de Kersauson in 1997, Bruno Peyron in 2002, Olivier de Kersauson in 2004 and Bruno Peyron again in 2005.
In 2005, Bruno Peyron placed the bar very high: 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and 4 seconds… It is the main aim of the year once again and a challenge taken up by Franck and his men.
Fast Forward To January 2008
Franck Cammas and his nine crew were constantly ahead of the record time set by Géronimo and Orange 2. Yet we recall that off New Zealand on a certain 18th February, the port float snapped, leading to Groupama 3’s capsize.
Though the men were safe and sound and quickly airlifted by helicopter by New Zealand rescuers, the maxi trimaran was badly damaged. However, thanks to the unfailing support of Groupama, the trimaran was towed, lifted onto a cargo ship and has since been restored to its former glory at the Multiplast yard in Brittany.
For its second attempt, Franck Cammas will have a reinforced and developed Groupama 3, as well as a loyal crew completed by a few new faces.
Time to beat: 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and 4 seconds
The Jules Verne Trophy course is 26,000 nautical miles. It begins by crossing the start line defined by an imaginary line linking the Créac’h lighthouse on the island of Ushant and the Lizard Point lighthouse. From there the aim is to circumnavigate the globe by leaving the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port, and crossing the finish line, described above, in the opposite direction.