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From offshore to inshore: all the news abouts sea sports from 2000

Jules Verne Trophy

Peyron starts again on Saturday morning

Orange has left Vannes for Ouessant island

Friday 1 March 2002

Bruno Peyron, skipper of the maxi-catamaran Orange with Gilles Chiorri (boat captain) and Yann Penfornis (one of the boat’s designers) and Eric Mas (Météo Consult) at his side has just announced at a press briefing in Vannes that he will be casting off this afternoon at about 1800 setting course for Ushant to cross the starting line of the Jules Verne Trophy Jules Verne Trophy #TropheeJulesVerne again tomorrow morning Saturday.

The irony of fate, it was just when Bruno Peyron was confirming this new attempt when the news broke about Olivier de Kersauson’s abandon following a problem with the rudder of his giant trimaran. Bruno Peyron immediately expressed his sympathy and support for Geronimo’s crew stressing the extreme difficulty that a crewed circumnavigation represents on these new giant multihulls. Bruno Peyron: "we are very sad because we were following Olivier’s attempt very closely. We are sharing the same story. Our adventure will loose some of its spice even though the duel with Olivier was not the number 1 objective. The Jules Verne is a real challenge that is never won in advance. We will be leaving this evening with a slight bitter taste in our mouths. In any case our thoughts go out to them".

Eric Mas, boss of Météo Consult confirms that the weather window is favourable for the giant Orange to start tomorrow morning. Off Ushant, the timers of the WSSRC (World Speed Speed #speedsailing Sailing Record Record #sailingrecord Council), the international body that approves sailing records, will be standing by this evening. So the boat will leave Vannes at about 1800 and sail all night, using the occasion to trim the mast that was re-stepped this morning. "we’re setting off of course with a little less confidence than the last time, but this apprehension will be history a few hours after the start. The repair of the mast was performed in exemplary conditions by the Multiplast yard. Tomorrow morning we’re expecting strong northeasterly winds, but we don’t really have a choice. Our decision to start is final."

Information Mer&Media Media #media / Orange



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