Joyon to set sail

Maxi-trimaran due to departure on westward transatlantic bid on 'Route of Discovery' course

"Here, the sun is out and it is approximately 23°C - ideal conditions to carry out the final preparations to the boat," said IDEC skipper Francis Joyon on the phone from Cadiz earlier.

While these conditions may be ideal for working on his maxi-trimaran, they are not best suited at present for Joyon's imminent attempt on the Route of Discovery record from Cadiz in southern Spain to the island of Salvador in the Bahamas. More appropriate northerly conditions are expected to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday this week.

Leaving at night could be problematic due to negotiating the confines of Cadiz's harbour entrance in his beamy trimaran, but at sea it should be blowing 15-20 knots enabling the French solo round the world record holder to be propelled down the course at maximum speed.

Compared to the skippers taking part in the Vendee Globe who will be scratching their heads about how to get around the low pressure system that later this week will be centred over the Canaries, the course to get to the Bahamas is almost due west and the weather forecast charts show a giant highway of 35 knot northeasterlies in exactly the direction he wishes to travel.

It is likely however that Joyon will head south in order to get more favourable conditions and in particular wind angles towards the end of this 3,884 mile long trans-Atlantic passasge. Due to the extra miles he believes he will have to sail Joyon is aiming to try and clock up 500 miles on average each day. The present record of 9 days 13 hours 30 minutes and 18 seconds, set in February 2003 by Steve Fossett's PlayStation, was at an average of 16.92 knots or just over 400 miles per day.

Compared with his round the world record Joyon doesn't think the course will be as enjoyable but says he will still be pleased if he breaks the record.

Since her momentus round the world voyage earlier this year one tonne of weight has been removed from his 90ft van Peteghem-Prevost designed trimaran.