The maxi trimaran Sails of Change set out from New York at 13:10:08 UTC on Thursday in an attempt to break the trans-Atlantic record. Yann Guichard and his 11-strong crew arrived in the United States the day before to take advantage of a favourable weather window. In their sights is the record set by Pascal Bidegorry aboard the same boat in August 2009 of 3 days, 15 hours and 25 minutes.
The Sails for Change crew set off for New York on Wednesday to prepare to set off at 1200 UTC on one of the most prestigious records in the sailing world: crossing the Atlantic from west to east. The maxi trimaran had arrived on the US east coast last May in preparation for the attempt.
A well trained and determined crew
In the attempt to break the record Yann will be able to count on a well-trained and cohesive team. The 11 sailors around him are all experienced ocean racers and time-trial challengers, with many of them having been on stand-by over the winter for an attempt at the round-the-world Jules Verne Trophy. All know they will need to be cool-headed, fully focused and determined to take on this incredible challenge.
A prestigious 14 year-old record
Sails of Change passed the Ambrose Light, the startling line for the attempt, at 13:10:08 UTC (09:10:08 EST), and is now heading for Lizard Point on Great Britain’s southwest coast, a course of 2,880 miles (5,330 km), across the heart of the North Atlantic.
The North Atlantic record has a special place in the history of ocean racing. It has been held by Banque Populaire V — now Sails of Change — since 2009 when Pascal Bidegorry and his crew set a new record of 3 days, 15 hours and 25 minutes.
Yann Guichard knows what is required having been one of the crews who broke the record in 2006, 4 days and 8 hours with Orange II, and again in 2007 on Groupama 3 in a time of 4 days and 3 hours. The skipper is out to take it again aboard Sails of Change.
The crew of Sails of Change
Yann Guichard (skipper)
Duncan Spath (helmsman)
Benjamin Schwartz (navigator)
Xavier Revil (watch leader)
Jacques Guichard (watch leader)
Thierry Chabagny (helmsman-trimmer)
Grégory Gendron (trimmer)
Loic Le Mignon (trimmer)
Thibault Julien (trimmer)
Christopher Pratt (helmsman-trimmer)
Clément Giraud (bowman)
Pieter Tack (bowman)
