Underway

Ellen sets off on SNSM record attempt

Ellen MacArthur and her four-man crew on board the trimaran B&Q/Castorama started the Record SNSM at 15:08:47 GMT (16:08:47 BST) today off St Nazaire, France. They are setting out to establish a new record for the Maxi class category so, in effect, there is no time to beat but they are hoping to complete this short record in around 24 hours.
B&Q/Castorama left Lorient, France early this morning and motored upwind to the start line off St Nazaire. For the start there was only a light 7 knot wind from the south.

"We are still hoping the breeze will fill in to 15-20knots from the southwest later on for the passage up to Ushant. The breeze should turn more south as we turn the corner at Ushant and we should be able to reach across the north coast of France to St Malo. We are still aiming for just under 24 hours although but unless this breeze fills in, that will be pushing it," said Ellen. "It's great to be out sailing again on B&Q/Castorama and to be doing this record with some of the team. It's a great idea which supports the SNSM and makes it doubly worthwhile for us."

The Record SNSM is a 284 miles passage, heading north up the coasts of Loire Atlantique and Brittany. This course is designed to bring recognition to the 56 SNSM stations between Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Malo. The Socient Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM) is the equivalent of the RNLI in the UK, and just like the RNLI is funded solely by public donations.

Already an ORMA 60 trimaran record was set by Thomas Coville on Sodebo on the 20 April with a time of 1 day, 1 hour, 37 minutes and 17 seconds at an average speed of 11.04 knots. Coville set out along with Michel Desjoyeux on Geant and Thierry Dupré, on Gitana X but both Gitana X and Geant were forced to abandon only a few hours into the record attempt due to gear failure.

Sailing with Ellen MacArthur and B&Q/Castorama's boat captain Loik Gallon, Charles Darbyshire, Rudi Steiness and Cameraman from France 3 national TV network.