Wednesday, October 9, 2013, Francis Joyon received ULTIMATE TROPHY, new sporting distinction that honors the fastest sailor on the four major ocean records alone: “World Tour, North Atlantic Discovery Route and 24 hour record . The skipper of the maxi-trimaran IDEC is the first to receive this new award, true Grand Slam of ocean sailing solo! Award received from Jean Todt, FIA President and Gérard Saillant, President of ICM.
Repeat the exploits of Francis Joyon deserved a trophy. Record World Tour alone in 2008, 24-hour record in 2012, Discovery Route and Record of the North Atlantic in 2013: so many great records held by Francis Joyon and earned him this award Wednesday, October 9 the ULTIMATE TROPHY. “I am pleased that this award embodies performances that are the fruit of a long process with the IDEC Group, ICM, my router Jean-Yves Bernot, but Christophe Houdet who helped me for escorts” says the skipper of the maxi-trimaran IDEC. 57 days around the world solo Marin fastest around the world since 2004, his record was broken the following year by the British sailor Ellen MacArthur who sailed around the world in 71 days and 14 hours – one day better than Francis. Francis who went for the record in 2008 and hit a great shot breaking the record in 57 days 1:34 p.m. minutes and 6 seconds! “World Tour is the most difficult record for its length and crossed areas,” says he. “I had to go very far south in iceberg areas, facing extreme weather conditions . The rise between Cape Horn and Britain was also complicated, with a lot of minor damage. And despite the challenging course, we had to go fast for a
long time. This is my best record, one that leaves me more memories. ” 666,000 in 24 hours in the summer of 2012, Joyon addresses a second major record: the greatest distance covered in 24 hours alone. Result: 666.2 miles. “I saw a depression formed in the middle of the Atlantic. I left Britain to join then I placed on its front. It worked! The record of 24 hours is too extreme, in the sense that it must be very high speeds in rough conditions necessarily. ” eight days on the road to Columbus in February 2013, Francis Joyon part in the assault of the one of his records he feels threatened: the Discovery Route between Cadiz (Spain) and San Salvador (Bahamas). He explains: “Thomas Coville had a nice ahead of my time reference and was poised to improve. So I went to my turn. Meanwhile, Thomas gave up and so I fought against my own clock. Successfully (8 days 16 hours 7 minutes and 5 seconds). In the Discovery Route, it takes several fronts, but also faced calm zones. Unstable conditions, therefore, and must successfully manage these different weather systems. ”
Atlantic in 5 days Last record to date: the North Atlantic in 5 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds to rally Ambrose Light off New York to Lizard Point, at the western tip of Cornwall. A particularly remarkable that it occurred in a particular context. Francis Joyon: “I capsized off New York during the previous attempt. I felt apprehensive but I was desperate to erase the bad memory. Again, it must be constantly very fast, background settings on the boat all the time to file more than 25 knots. We hardly slept for five days and you get overwhelmed. ” Keep Trophy Francis Joyon has to date four records in his pocket. But it is well placed to know that they are by definition meant to be broken. Especially as competition sharpens: sailors from the likes of Thomas Coville, Armel Le Cléac’h, François Gabart or Lemonchois covet his records, and at the same time the Ultimate Trophy. Francis Joyon but does not move in quite the contrary: “I find that my performance has created a rivalry that pushes sailors and sponsors to invest. They provide the means to fight with larger boats, lighter, wider – so faster. But I will not let me do, if one of my records is beaten, I’ll do anything to get it back! “. Patrice Lafargue, Chairman of the IDEC Group: “I am very proud of this award which recognizes a great sailor and history of over 10 years with the IDEC Group. I agree with all employees to congratulate these exploits non-standard. ” Gerard Saillant, President of the ICM: “The Ultimate Trophy is the recognition of repeated exploits of an extraordinary man common and through it all a team. Francis has long shown that the victory was the result of talent, labor and courage, but was not incompatible with loyalty, generosity and legendary discretion that he knows. Francis thank you for making us dream! ”
Reminder of four records:
– Record Around the World: 57 days 1:34 p.m. minutes and 6 seconds, February 2008
– 24-hour record: 666.2 miles traveled, July 2012
– Record of Discovery Route (Cadiz – Without Salvador): 8 days 16 hours 7 minutes and 5 seconds in February 2013
– Record of the North Atlantic: 5 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds, in June 2013