For the Jules Verne Prize

No sooner said than done. The trimaran crew moored to the pontoon IDEC SPORT, it seemed that he was in a hurry to rush into the race from the very dawn, since he decided not to drag along the sea at night in pitch darkness. Under the parting beams of the Lyabey-Bourbon tugboat (Bourbon Bee), Francis Joyon, Alex Pella, Guenole Gainet, Clement Surtelle, Sebastian Odigan and Bernard Stamm, hastily left the pier of Brest, as soon as the flasks pierced 06.30. The trimaran carried them to the start area of the Jules Verne Prize, leaving behind a gray and red foam trail, illuminated by the running lights.

Here are some of their last remarks at the dock before sailing:

Francis Joyon: “Our win predictions this morning seem a little better than they did last night. We have every chance of catching a favorable north wind with the least risk of falling into a calm zone. The situation is now more favorable. According to the weather forecast, the weather will be clear all the way to the coast of Uruguay, which is about 6,000 miles from here. We are stubborn, the goal remains the same: to return in less than 45 days. We are not mathematicians, it is difficult for us to talk about percentages in relation to these races. But we have one chance, and this is already a lot, and we are ready to catch it! "

Alex Pella: “On this last night on earth, I slept on a ship, so I have an advantage over my dear friends, I have already adapted to the sea! I'm not alone, we all have a real desire to set sail as soon as possible, especially since the view here is very beautiful. The wait dragged on a bit. We won quietly compared to the last time. Our first attempt with going out to sea for 15 days was beneficial to us, both for us and for mastering the ship. It was a very good workout, and now it is time to really go sailing. "

Guenole Gaine: “We had a few hours before we left the port. The departure was planned and this allows us to be more calm. We'll be fast all the way to the equator. The start of the races promises to be very favorable. In the South Atlantic, not everything will be as smooth as we would like, but there is enough time until the Cape of Good Hope itself. I tell myself that we can have pleasant surprises. Last time we had a good rehearsal and I don't feel any stress, everything is prepared, everything is under control! "

Clement Surtel: “It's a hot season and the waiting periods always seem a little long. I'm really glad to be back here. During this round-the-world race, you get the opportunity to enjoy the view of the equator, and two or three days later, the view of the Cape of Good Hope. Humanly, it remains an adventure. We are not going on an entertainment cruise, we are going on a voyage around the world with all its difficulties. But I am sure that each of us is in a serious mood and each of us has good motivation to achieve this record. In technical terms, we are completely confident. Now let's cross our fingers so that the weather

Sebastian Odigan: “I am in a state of anticipation of the start of the Jules Verne Prize races. I am leaving for 43-44 days and it’s no trivial matter. A bit of an odd sensation, but I feel like I'm only going out for one week. I would need to tune in to 150, especially since I am in such a hurry to hit the road. "

Bernard Stamm: “Now the conditions for the start are better than last time. We had enough time to prepare well and complete all our business. This time, for the second time, we are calmer. Last time, the race had already begun, and I was still dressing. There were many uncertain moments until we finally made a decision. The meteorological forecast for the northern hemisphere promises to be pretty good, but there are some doubts about the southern hemisphere. But there is still time for everything to change and fall into place. Wait and see. It's good that we start in the afternoon. This is better than wasting energy at the start. Everything is going well up to the equator. Therefore, at the moment you need to start! "

* The exact start time is controlled by the WSSRC World Sailing Speed Record Council

18.12.2016