French Skipper Sets Around-the-World Sailing Speed Record
January 30, 2012
Byline: Associated Press
BREST, France (AP) — French skipper Loick Peyron set an around-the-world sailing record in his challenge for the Jules Verne Trophy, beating the old mark by nearly three days to win the race for the first time.
Peyron and his jubilant crew aboard the offshore 130-foot racing trimaran Banque Populaire V arrived late Jan. 6 in the French seaport of Brest — with a time of 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes, 53 seconds.
“It’s liberating. You feel emotion … the satisfaction of a job well done,” Peyron said. “We’re all proud, but we’ve accumulated a lot of fatigue because of the speed. We’re going to make the most of a bed that doesn’t move about and hit a few pillows.”
French skipper Franck Cammas set the previous record of 48 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds two years ago, aboard his multihull vessel Groupama 3.
Loick Peyron’s win is the seventh successful challenge for the Jules Verne Trophy since the first attempt in 1993.
Peyron’s brother, Bruno Peyron, won the Jules Verne Trophy three times during his illustrious sailing career.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy spoke to Peyron by telephone to congratulate him as he approached shore.
The Jules Verne Trophy is a prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht, with no restrictions on the size of the crew.
