Parlier to head for Canaries

With his radical catamaran modified the French skipper wishes to attempt the solo 24 hour record

Yves Parlier is set to leave Arcachon, SW France on Friday 1 April at 1000 hours, bound for Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, which the French skipper is hoping to reach by the beginning of the following week - a passage of three to four days depending upon the weather conditions.

Since the beginning of March, Parlier has been carrying out tests on the Bassin d'Arcachon following modifications made to his radical catamaran Médiatis Région Aquitaine over the winter: new foils, a lightening of the boat by 700kg, modifications which all seem to be bearing fruit. "The sensation is very pleasant," says Parlier of sailing the boat. " Médiatis Région Aquitaine seems to go more quickly and starts planing earlier... But it is necessary to wait until we have encountered a wider variety of wind conditions before drawing too many conclusions... "

On his route south to the Canary Islands Parlier comments: "At this period of the year, the trade winds blow in this area. We will continue our trial runs profitting from good wind conditions in particular to test the new foils. We see if we can push our hydroplaner a little, to record new speeds ".

Once in Gran Canaria Parlier will remain there for the whole of April during while time he will attempt Laurent Bourgnon's singlehanded 24 hour record, set on a west to east transatlantic record attempt in 1994 aboard the 60ft trimaran Primagaz - of 540 miles, at an average speed of 22.5 knots. Despite being one up on board, at the time Bourgnon set this record it was the outright 24 hour record - faster than any fully crewed boat had gone...

To read more about Parlier's extraordinary twin wingmasted, stepped hull catamaran - click here to read part one, here to read part two.