Francis Joyon, the less lonely lonely

There were people on Monday, March 31 in Paris for the launch party of the Route de l’Amitié. Starting, of course, by Francis Joyon, skipper of maxi trimaran IDEC, to whom all eyes were turned. For it is he who will challenge shortly Atlantic solo, on a new route: Bordeaux-Rio or 5,000 nautical miles (9,200 km). Professor Gérard Saillant and Jean Todt, founding member of the ICM and sponsors Max Francis, were present at this meeting in Paris. Just as some of the great ambassadors who rally around the new challenge of Francis Joyon

“Sail of Hope”: new signatories

In fact, Francis will be very good company in its new record attempt as will the “Sail of Hope”. Decorated with the dove of Peace by Picasso, this headsail maxi trimaran IDEC, will open the way to Rio. Many players, including Team France 2014 football in full force, led by coach Didier Deschamps, whose teams League Olympique de Marseille, OGC Nice, AS Saint-Etienne, Montpellier HSC, Olympique Lyonnais … had already signed. Furthermore Gérard Saillant and Jean Todt, those present last night in turn affixed their signatures: the actor Clovis Cornillac, the world champion of 1998 Football Franck Leboeuf, former national team coach Michel Hidalgo de France, the producer Dominique Besnehard or triple Paralympic medalist Marie-Amélie Le Fur …. Other ambassadors – from the worlds of sports, artistic, political, economic and media – soon follow their lead. As for the Brazilian stars, they are signing in turn sail after the great ocean journey Francis Joyon. This prestigious symbol of Franco-Brazilian will then be auctioned in late 2014 at a gala evening in Paris. All the profits will be donated to charities and the Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord.

Standby on Friday

Now everything will go very quickly for Francis Joyon. After delivery from its home port of La Trinité-sur-Mer (Morbihan), the browser will show in Bordeaux. As a prelude to top from the Route de l’Amitié, the big red trimaran will indeed under the Chaban-Delmas bridge at 10am on Friday April 4. Francis Joyon and will dock at the pier honor before the Place de la Bourse. At 11 am, the team Girondins de Bordeaux sign Sail of Hope with other personalities. This will be the official start of stand-by itself. Francis wait a favorable weather window presents itself to put cap on Rio. It will then only, or almost …

They said:

Francis Joyon , skipper of maxi trimaran IDEC: ” The fact of feeling all around me that friendship is something very strong. Sporty, Friendship Road will be the first record between Europe and South America. From the window to be relatively short, about two weeks. This course about 5 000 000 does not look simple, it has a lot of traps. I have to heart to make a good reference time to motivate my successors. Closing the crossing in 15 days would be satisfactory. ”

Patrice Lafargue , Chairman of IDEC Group: ” We wanted to offer something different, who married a caring cause. This idea of record between France and Brazil in favor of the ICM appeared quickly. It will be a nice prelude to this major event is the World Cup football. ”

Gérard Saillant , president of the ICM: ” ICM is associated since 2005 with the exploits of Francis Joyon. Sponsor once again his boat is a strong symbol. I note many parallels between the challenges of the ICM and those Francis. Like him, we also note a big challenge: finding solutions to diseases of the brain and spinal cord. ”

Jean Todt, Vice-President of the ICM: ” I am very honored that the maxi trimaran IDEC raises again the colors of the ICM in this great new ocean adventure. The talented Francis Joyon meets great team around him. And it is well known: beautiful teams always win! ”

Provisional Programme Route of Friendship

Friday, April 4, 2014: Beginning of the stand-by Francis Joyon in Bordeaux for the record attempt between Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro.

To May 10, 2014: Arrival estimated maxi-trimaran IDEC in Rio de Janeiro.

End of 2014: Auction of the auction “Veil of Hope” signed by all the French and Brazilian ambassadors.

Reminder:

Francis Joyon is the first marine holder Ultimate Trophy. It is the only one who held the same time the following four records:

• Record Around the World: 57 days 1:34 p.m. minutes and 6 seconds, February 2008 (valid record to date)
• Record of the North Atlantic: 5 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds, June 2013 (valid to date record)
• 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, February 2013