Banque Populaire V has smashed the the world record for the fastest circumnavigation. It took her just 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds to circle the globe, and in doing so lay claim to the Jules Vern Trophy. Congratulations to Loïck Peyron and his crew who managed to shave 2 days and 18 hours off the previous record held by Groupama 3.
I just hung up after a satellite phone conversation with Matt Rutherford. He was "rounding the Horn" on a bright, sunny day with a 20 knot SW wind, broad reaching under reduced sail, reeling off the knots at 5.8 k. He was 17 miles due south of Cape Horn and was looking at rocky peaks as he spoke.
To say he was excited would be an understatement as could be said about me. 208 days, alone, covering over 18,000 miles in a 41 year old, 27 foot stock sailboat is an extraordinary achievement and one for many record books!
For more information, check Matt's website or CRAB's. I am sure that once you have checked it out, you will appreciate this heads up.
Congratulations, Matt Rutherford! You have done yourself proud and your friends and supporters share in that pride.
This video answers the age old question of how do you parasail with no boat and no water. I have to believe that beer was involved in the genesis of this idea. Is a disclaimer necessary here? Just in case, do not try this at home.
