JVT: Return to Code Red for the Maxi Banque Populaire V

Banque Populaire V. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut/BPCE.

by Virginie Bouchet (abbreviated in translation)

Moved to Code Orange in the last few days, under the impetus of a weather situation which appeared to have the awaited qualities for a record attempt, the men of Maxi Banque Populaire V see Red once more. After mature reflection, Pascal Bidégorry, Ronan Lucas and their navigator Marcel Van Triest estimated that the current situation in the Atlantic was much too unstable, choosing to hold back for a better time of departure. If the sailors' spirits had risen in the last few days, the start of the Trophée Jules Verne for the trimaran sporting the colours of Banque Populaire V has only been put back, as the stand-by will continue until 20th February.

For the skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire, the situation is not one to regret: "The window didn't develop as we had hoped. The situation became complicated between the Canaries, Cape Vert and the equator. The depression system located in the west of the Spanish archipelago... gave place to a zone of light winds. We still had some hope yesterday evening, but no longer so this morning. It is incredible how everything is very unstable in the North Atlantic while in the South the systems don't move due to the St Helena High which bars the route. We really wanted to leave but the deciding factor is always to go with weather with which we stand a chance of beating the record. We will continue our stand-by until 20th February."

Since starting their record campaigns, the men of the Maxi Banque Populaire V have become very well used to the rules of the game and know that hopes and disappointments are their lot during the forecast analysis and expectation phase. But far from demobilising, each keeps and eye on the [weather] files. The time for the race around the world will come, but for now, the Code returns to Red.

Banque Populaire V