Banque Populaire blitzes Cape of Good Hope record

World's fastest offshore boat now more than two and a half days ahead of the record pace

Sunday December 4th 2011, Author: James Boyd, Location: none selected

Chart above courtesy of Expedition/Tasman Bay Navigation Systems and PredictWind

Date time Lat Long VMG Crs Spd Spd Spd Dist DTF DT G3
          Inst 4 hrs 24hrs      
04/12/2011 08:45 43°51.23'S 020°16.79'E 30.8 87° 30.8 31.8 32.7 785.2 16 850 1 835.60
04/12/2011 05:45 44°04.24'S 018°02.74'E 30 86° 33.7 31.5 33 791.3 16 933 1 830.60
04/12/2011 02:45 44°13.00'S 015°48.94'E 29 84° 32.4 32.3 33.3 798.7 17 019 1 808.10
03/12/2011 23:45 44°25.16'S 013°31.66'E 29.3 82° 32.8 31.6 33.2 796 17 107 1 742.30
03/12/2011 20:30 44°43.56'S 011°06.70'E 30.5 84° 33.1 30.7 33.3 799.1 17 200 1 683.80
03/12/2011 17:45 44°59.11'S 009°08.06'E 28.3 80° 31.4 32.1 33.5 804.8 17 277 1 624.80
03/12/2011 14:30 45°05.76'S 006°38.28'E 32.4 89° 33.9 33.1 33.6 806.3 17 377 1 559.90
03/12/2011 11:45 45°06.14'S 004°27.53'E 32.9 92° 33.9 34.1 33.8 811.7 17 466 1 488.50
03/12/2011 08:45 45°00.76'S 001°59.07'E 31.9 91° 33.1 33.8 33.7 808.3 17 569 1 402.50

While still cruising along at a cool 30-33 knots, so this morning Banque Populaire passed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope setting a new record for the passage from Ushant. The 40m long trimaran passed the Cape at 06:20 UTC this morning. Prior to their departure the initial routing suggested that the crew would make the Cape in 12 days. In fact they have done better - their time is just 11 days 21 hours 48 minutes and 18 seconds.

This provides a good reference for Banque Populaire's progress over Groupama 3's record pace. In 2010 it took Franck Cammas' team 14 days 13 hours 31 minutes and 43 seconds, so passing the Cape, Banque Populaire was 2 days 15 hours 43 minutes and 25 seconds ahead. So by our calculation 18% faster...

However on Groupama 3's previous attempt in 2008 (which ended in the near loss of the boat off New Zealand), she had reached the Cape of Good Hope in 13 days 8 hours and 47 minutes, the fastest time until now.

Over the last 24 hours, Banque Populaire's average speed has continue to hover around the 33 knot area, however conditions are expected to drop slightly over the course of today to around 20 knots (instead of 30) and with it the maxi-tri's frantic pace. While heading generally east, already their is some slight north in her heading and at the latest sched she was about to cross the track of Groupama 3. However, as mentioned yesterday, while the crew can now draw breath for 24 hours or so, on Tuesday they are going to have to duck south of the Crozet islands to avoid an area of high pressure, bringing with this the increased risk of encountering ice.

 

 

Latest Comments

  • David Bains 04/12/2011 - 17:36

    Incredible isn't it. One of the very fastest boats in the world can maintain these speeds in the roaring forties! We must be looking at the possibility of a 40day circumnavigation. Fingers crossed!!

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