We are running out of superlatives to describe the achievements of the sailing trimaran Banque Populaire V which has this evening completed its circumnavigation in a record 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds, to win the prestigious Jules Verne Trophy. The yacht and its 14 crew, headed by Loïck Peyron, crossed the finish line at 23:12, local time.
The former record was established by Franck Cammas and his crew on the trimaran Groupama 3 in March 2010. Banque Populaire V has improved on this record by two days and 18 hours with an impressive average speed of 26.41 knots. Both trimarans were designed by VPLP.
Banque Populaire V is one of the most impressive sailing multihulls afloat today and has achieved a whole host of world records. Indeed, she has broken no less than 6 in the course of this latest race against time: Ouessant-Equator, Ouessant-Cape of Good Hope, Ouessant-Cape Leeuwin, Ouessant-Cape Horn, the famous Equator-Equator and of course the Jules Verne reference time.
The 14 man crew of Banque Populaire V will remain off the French coast overnight, and will enter the harbour of Brest at 9h30 (local time) to be honoured by officials and fans.