Joyon back on the road

Recouperated after his solo round the world ordeal the French legend has some fresh challenges in store

Francis Joyon is back in business! A few months after his incredible singlehanded non-stop record around the world of 57 days, Joyon and his giant trimaran are to embark on some new adventures.

With the boat in Marseilles and Toulon at the request of his sponsor IDEC, Joyon has been contemplating records he can sail in the Mediterranean. The most obvious of course is the 'trans-Med' record currently held by Bruno Peyron and the crew of Orange 2. However while Orange 2's record is fully crewed Joyon plans to sail it solo and if he can manage to maintin an average of just over 25 knots may be able to take the solo and fully crewed record in one stab.

After this, in September, IDEC will head for Cadiz (Spain), in order to go on stand-by for an attempt on the 'Route of Discovery' record, to San Salvador in the Bahamas, currently held by Thomas Coville his 60ft trimaran Sodebo.

Personally Joyon is rested and recovered from his soo round the world tour and is looking forward to the fresh challenges on board his faithful steed. Since Joyon's return the maxi-trimaran has been fully checked over and refitted by shore manager Christophe Houdet, and Joyon's own brother Christian.

The trimaran's platform appears not to have suffered from its lap of the planet but Joyon a new Cuben fibre mainsail and staysail. Joyon has even splashed out and replaced the rudders in IDEC's floats - those who followed the story of his solo round the world voyage will remember that as part of Joyon's 'budget' approach these were recycled from one of his previous 60ft trimarans!

"They suffered greatly around the world," admits Joyon. "The stock in particular showed signs of twisting, so we built two new ones which are much more rigid". At the same time he has also replaced the main daggerboard in the centre hull

At the end of May, Joyon Christophe Houdet, and a third crewman, will sail to Marseilles. Joyon is aware that the summer period is unlikely to provide the ideal Mistral conditions to make an attempt on the Transmed record. "I am coming to the Mediterranean to show the boat to my friends and sponsors," he said. "I've left a fortnight to stand-by in anticipation of strong enough winds."

The Transmed record, Orange II's time presently stands at 17 hours, 56 minutes and 33 seconds, while the solo record is held by Belgium sailor Michel Kleinjans and his Roaring Forty with a time of 1 day, 21 hours and 24 minutes