Spindrift 2 visits Newport as Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard prepare for the North Atlantic and 24 hour crewed records

Newport shipyard June 4, 2014 and the Maxi Trimaran Spindrift 2 sits patiently at the dock being readied and tended by her crew in preparation to break a very high bar. The records to to beat are the crewed North Atlantic record and ‘Zenith 24-hour records.  Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard accompanied by their crew make last minute adjustments and meet with sponsors and media.   The co skippers are in Newport awaiting a weather window for that just right system to propel them across the Atlantic.  The window does not look too promising for the next 10 days, but only time will tell.

There will b 2 record attempts:

The Transatlantic W to E, Ambrose Light – Lizard Point Record stands 3 Days 15 hours 25 minutes and 48 seconds. That record is held by Pascal Bidegorry and crew on board Banque Populaire V and was set in August of 2009.  Banque Populaire V averaged 32.94 kts to set the record.

and

The 24-hour record – World record for distance sailed in 24hrs  Was set by Pascal Bidegorry and crew on board Banque Populaire V , 908 miles at an average of 37.84 knots.

Team Spindrift is a team of  30 that tend the  needs of the Spindrift Stable. She is at a distance and up close a visually stunning boat. The closer you get the better she looks. With her black, gold and white paint scheme even sitting still she looks fast.  Her size up close is quite massive.

Specifications of Spindrift 2 

Name: Maxi Spindrift 2

Spindrift 2’s  mast has been cut down by 6 meters. By reducing the mast’s  height on the boat it won’t have to spend as much time reefed.   Each time the sail is reefed down a little more of the optimum shape in the original design is lost. Thus costing the boat speed.  The designers hope that by keeping the sail all the way up to the masthead they will gain much needed speed and lessen the power lost with reefs thus making more efficient time.   The mast reduction lessen the weight of the boat as well.

Every inch of the boat has been scrutinized to find any advantage because the stakes are so high. This will be a difficult record to break, and the possibility of breaking a record that in itself was a feat of great accomplishment weighs on the crew.

During the time they wait for the weather window the team also must go back across the atlantic to another sail another Spindrift stable boat and crew on the Spindrift 35 in a very busy season for Team Spindrift.  The entire Spindrift Crew is as assortment of outstanding sailors and record breakers.

Spindrift 2 crew:
Dona Bertarelli – Skipper
Yann Guichard – Skipper
Xavier Revil
Jacques Guichard
Erwan Tabarly
Antoine Carraz
Christophe Espagnon
Nicolas Texier
Jean Baptiste le Vaillant
Sébastien Marsset
François Morvan
Simone Gaeta
Erwan Israel

The other changes made to increase speed were to make the from adding a bit of cloth from the forward braces to increase the aerodynamics and lessen the windage. This lessening of  the drag  may only buy fractions, but fractions times thousands of miles equals time. With this record attempt every fraction of a second counts-

Once this record attempt is completed the boat will have a few small refits to prepare it for Yann Guichard’s solo trip on Spindrift 2 in the  upcoming Route du Rhum Saint-Malo Guadeloupe.  The grinding pedestal will be changed to a cycle style so Yann and use that to his advantage for tacking and gybing.  Those changes will make it easier to go from a double handed to solo effort.

Boat’s ready, crew’s  ready now all they need is Mother Nature to favor them.

For more information on the Team Spindrift sailing Check out www.spindrift-racing.com