Coville on stand-by

Sodebo maxi-trimaran to make an attempt on Joyon's solo New York-Lizard record

Thomas Coville's maxi trimaran Sodebo is currently docked at the Gateway Marina in Brooklyn, New York on stand-by to make an attempt on the solo North Atlantic record.

Since the launch of the new Irens-Cabaret designed 105ft trimaran in Australia a year ago almost to the day, the boat has already covered traveled nearly 40,000 miles across the world's oceans. Last winter, Coville tried to beat the solo non-stop around the world record. 20 days into this Sodebo broke record for the most number of miles covered over a 24 hour period - 619.3 miles at an average speed of 25.8 knots. Sadly just a few minutes later, one of the bows broke off forcing Coville to abandon his attempt on the round the world record.

Disappointed but not discouraged, Coville sailed Sodebo to South Africa and after more than a month of refit in Cape Town at the Team Shosholosa base Coville and his crew left South Africa bound for New York.

Since the beginning of May, the 'Sodeboys' have been getting their craft in record setting trim. All the extra have been taken off, the toolbox minimised, the diesel tank emptied and the propeller shaft for the engine disassembled.

The present record for the New York (USA) - Cap Lizard (GB) stands at 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds, held of course by Coville's nemesis, Francis Joyon. The record is already incredible if you consider that a century ago it took 12 days and 4 hours for the 56m schooner Atlantic, sailed by skipper Charlie Barr 50 crew to make this passage.

So beating the original IDEC's time of 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds... "It's true that the bar is high," admits Coville. "The record Francis set is once again outstanding. But keeping Sodebo sailing at over 19.75 knots average for over 2,980 miles for 6 days is certainly possible. I'll have to get straight into the rhythm of manoeuvre, eating, tacking… it has to have the right tempo. I expect to be 200% for 6 days!"

For now the team must await the right weather window. "The ideal scenario is to start in front a depression that we hold all the way to the finish - that is why choosing the right weather window is complicated," says Coville. "Two years ago, we waited for the ideal conditions for too long. This time, we be bolder," he confides.

For the record attempt Coville has employed a team of routers: Thierry Douillard, Christian Dumard and Richard Silvani will watch their screens to dissect and analyze the weather over the next days and weeks keeping an eye out for depression showing any suitability. As soon as a favourable weather becomes apparent, Coville will jump on the first plane from France to New York. He will then take a few days to recover from jetlag while his teammates take care of reading the maxi-trimaran. He will only load two days in fresh food - the rest is already on board and is freeze-dried, cereal bars or energy drinks.