Man with a plan

James Boyd speaks to Offshore Challenge's new Australian thoroughbred, Nick Moloney

Of his imminent trip around the world with Bruno Peyron Moloney says it will be achieving a personal goal. "It is one of three things I would like to do: fully crew around the world in the Whitbread, then as fast as possible in one go in The Race or the Jules Verne. Then to knock it on the head I want to do one solo. They're the three for me." He was on board PlayStation for The Race, but Fossett pulled out because of the excessive amount of damage to the huge cat.

At present the Jules Verne Trophy is held by Olivier de Kersauson's trimaran Sport Elec with a time of 71 days 14 hours and 18 minutes but there is every probablity that Orange, a much larger boat than the record holder, will better it. "The goal estimate is 65 days. But if it's 70 or three hours before de Kersauson, I'll be happy," says Moloney. In fact it is possible Orange could make it around in as little as 60 days.

Compared with The Race, an attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy is more flexible - you can leave when the weather is just right - and for their attempt there is a good chance they will line up against Geronimo, Olivier de Kersauson's new trimaran, to help them keep the pressure on. "The boats are capable of circumnavitating faster than Sport Elec. If you keep that package together and maintain some reservation on where the upper limits are you are going to finish in good time, provided the weather patterns fall into place. To have another boat out there helps you push."

After the damage sustained by Club Med and Team Adventure in particular during The Race, Moloney is confident that Orange will survive a second assault around the world. "I did know of all the damage that occurred. I think it was a real credit that there was no disaster in The Race. A bit of boat damage here and there - that was a pretty light penalty."

Once the Jules Verne attempt is over, Moloney will return to Kingfisher, which will be undergoing a refit in Cowes in preparation for this season's racing. This will include the new monohull version of the Challenge Mondial Assistance, La Regate de Rubicon going from France to Lanzarote and then to Italy.

In addition to this Moloney may take part in the Tour de France a la Voile as part of an Australian/French team, a leg or two of the Volvo Ocean Race and if he gets a spare weekend, may try to windsurf across the Channel "not because it's hard. I just want to do it!" Potentially this should be easy compared to his last windsurfing marathon across the rather more fiercesome Bass Strait. These frantic pace has become synonymous with the Ellen and Turner way.

Meanwhile Offshore Challenges will be looking to find Moloney sponsorship and a monohull for November's Route du Rhum. This will be followed by teaming up with Ellen again on the big cat for their own attempt on the Jules Verne early in 2003.

But still the main focus is the Vendee. For this Moloney is looking to have a new boat built. "I'd like to stick with the same design team, but with a bit more French influence," he says. "I'm really impressed with the Lombard boats." If this comes to pass then he'd like to have it built in Australia and sail it back to Europe like Ellen did.