Banque Populaire Code Amber

Pascal Bidegorry's maxi-tri may set off within 48 hours on her transatlantic record attempt

Pascal Bidegorry's maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V, has been on stand-by in New York since the beginning of July ready to make an attempt on Groupama III's record for the outright west to east transatlantic record between New York and the Lizard.

Today Bidegorry has annouced that they have gone 'code amber' which means that a departure is possible within the next 48 hours and tomorrow it will be decided whether this will be elevated to 'code green', meaning a definite departure within 24 hours, or whether they will revert to 'code red' (standby).

The forecast for Wednesday has the Azores high in the central north Atlantic (ie to the west of the Azores) with a depression spinning up off Nova Scotia. By Thursday the high will have been pushed east by a large depression moving southeast from the Labrador Sea creating a band of favourable northwesterlies off Nova Scotia. Come Friday the high is still in the east of the Atlantic as the depression moves further west leaving a runaway of southwesterlies across the breadth of the north Atlantic. By Saturday the high has elongated back to the west, centred more over the Azores with the depression still to its north with more strong westerlies in between the two. Come Sunday the two systems part company, with the depression to the north continuing east and the high moving west once more. While this forecast will make for a slowish start, it promises a fast finish, provided the depression moves as forecast.