Banque Populaire V flies away from the start this morning on her Mediterranean Record attempt. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut/BPCE.
by Virginie Bouchet (in translation)
It was with winds of 26-30 knots that the multihull skippered by Pascal Bidégorry crossed the starting line off Marseille at 05h 56min 56s (French time) this morning, to commence the assault on the Mediterranean Record. Together with the 11 members of the team, Pascal Bidégorry will attempt to establish a new reference time, a record which, since 16 May 2009, has been held by Franck Cammas and his team on Groupama 3 in 17h 8min and 23s. They mustarrive in Carthage in Tunisia before Saturday 23h 05min 19s (French time) to write their names in the record books once again. A true « Med Express » at play in the Mediterranean.
A month after its arrival in the port of La Ciotat, the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V (already holding the North Atlantic and 24hour records), will commence on a very complicated and interesting objective: 455 nautical miles* of pure sport for the giant, which will let its 40m hull length slip in absolute liberty !
Between the ancient Sémaphore de Frioul and the finish line at Carthage (Tunisia), the refence time to beat is 17 hours 8 minutes and 23 seconds.
The meteorological opportunity that presents itself today to the largest multihull in the world seems interesting and corresponds to the expectations of the Basque skipper and of his meteorologist Marcel Van Triest. But on a journey as renowned as that of the Mediterranean crossing for its numerous traps, the launched challenge to the time is fascinating in itself.
* Total distance defined by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council)
Banque Populaire V
