nce lunchtime today, the crew of Orange II has started tackling the final race against the clock to grab the Jules Verne Trophy and the outright round the world record. Thirty or forty miles off Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, the giant catamaran has picked up some wind and is starting out on her final challenge in the Atlantic to reach Ushant as quickly as possible.

This fortieth day of racing around the world began at 17 knots, after they spent a day stuck in a transition zone, covering only 179 miles… «This tricky transition zone was forecast for that area, » Bruno Peyron reminded us this lunchtime. «We mustn’t grumble about the weather, as we had really taken advantage of it over the previous 38 days. We can look at it quite philosophically, and as we have a lead of nine and a half days, there’s no need to panic!»

This pit stop allowed them to carry out a complete inspection of the boat, as well as allowing the crew to rest and get ready for the final stretch of this round the world voyage. This calm zone off Salvador de Bahia can be explained by the transition between the north easterly trades and the St. Helena high. There was no way Orange II could avoid it. «We didn’t take a detour, as we had to cross through this calm zone,» Peyron confirmed. «The passage through the South Atlantic is very difficult from a weather perspective. A year ago, Steve Fossett managed to do it on a straight line in a record ten days, which was quite exceptional. We were lucky enough to fall into this area at a spot that more or less suited us. We really paid the price yesterday, and now things are starting to pick up again. We’re making 18 knots!»

Still on track for a new intermediary record from Cape Horn — Equator

This speed means moreover that the skipper of Orange II can still hope to set a new intermediary record between Cape Horn and the entry into the North Atlantic. «Our first goal is the record for Cape Horn — The Equator. If we manage to set a new record, that will be very encouraging! For the moment, we’re still ahead of this record, and if we don’t break anything, we’re in with a chance of smashing it. In the longer term, our goals remain the two great round the world records.»

Peyron, who was more than ten days ahead of the time taken by the American Steve Fossett admits that he places the success of his project before that of setting an exceptional time. «I would prefer to finish one second before the time is up to beat the outright record in a boat in perfect condition, rather than 3 or 5 days ahead in a damaged boat. We’re not taking any unnecessary risks. We are still nine and a half days ahead. If we set out yesterday with the same weather as Cheyenne we could complete the circumnavigation in 47 days, but that’s only on paper and mathematically. We were nevertheless lucky to be able to take advantage of a series of weather patterns since the start. If we have to suffer on the final leg and lose a day, or two or three, we’ll still be smiling!»

The journey up the North Atlantic to reach Ushant and then Brest looks more complicated. Orange II will have to go right around via the north west before heading back down towards the tip of Brittany. «The weather pattern is such that there is a solid barrier in the middle of the North Atlantic. If we head off to the right to try to get around it on the edge of the high, we will have to sail at slow speed in heavy, dangerous seas. If we head off to the left, it will be kinder on the boat and we’ll be getting better angles to the wind, and it should allow us to pick up the first flow between Bermuda and the Azores.»

Extracts from Bruno Peyron’s radio session

A dive to carry out the inspection: It’s not that unpleasant to get into water at 27°C. I’m not as knowledgeable about composites as some others on board, but I wanted to see it for myself. We set up two teams, one for the stratification and the other for the sails, the traveller cars and the mast head etc. It took two and a half hours or three at the most, and everything went well. This stop was planned. It could have allowed us to carry out repairs and to strengthen the rudder. However, we decided not to do it, as our specialists, with the approval of the boatyard, decided that it would hold out until the finish. Apart from that, there is a dent under the port bow. We must have slammed down on something heavy and that deformed the crash box at the front, but that’s not a structural element in any case.

Boat in fine fettle: The boat is in perfect condition. It is perfectly intact apart from the little peripheral problems. There’s nothing wrong with the sails, the fittings, etc. It is better than new, as we adjusted things, as we went around the world. However, we shan’t be pushing her 100%, as we’re not here to break the 24-hour record or take unnecessary risks to set the time of the century. We shall be going on the attack less than we have up until now. In any case, the weather for the North Atlantic looks bad, so we won’t have that opportunity anyway, as we’re going to have to go the long way around. It looks like being a long detour to get back to Ushant.

Finish: I think we’ll be going in to Brest, as that is where the whole story began during the first Jules Verne Trophy. There are a lot of people in Brittany, who have been following this adventure, so we owe it to them to share our joy. Brest is ideally situated geographically to achieve that, as the Brest Roadstead is magnificent and everyone can be with us… After that, we’ll be heading for our shore base in Lorient. We’ll pop over to see our friends in Le Pouliguen and, of course, we’ll try to finish this little tour in the Old Port in Marseilles.

Fossett’s flying record: It must have all been prepared scientifically over several years. Well done! You could see it coming, as if he took the decision to start out, he must have been ready. Well done again!

Radio session with Yann Elies, watch leader on board Orange II

Yann Elies : «I still haven’t shaved. I’m trying to keep the beard growing until the finish, so that my wife can see it, as the photo doesn’t really show it all. There are a lot of fine things in the adventure around the world and pure racing side by side like each summer during the Figaro events. I have thus found the perfect mix for a sportsman like myself. The best example is my win in the final stage of the single-handed event, where my experience as a round the world yachtsman enabled me to work well with my equipment. I was the last one to keep up the large spinnaker. From the point of view of looking after the equipment and the human aspects, it gives me a lot. Going back to yesterday’s stop, you could say there were three stages. Firstly, we try to get everything ready for it. Things worked out well, so the stop was only a short one. When you are there, it’s difficult to put up with it, as you can see the ETA for the Equator being postponed, which is not very encouraging. Then, when the wind picks up, you cheer up too, and everyone is smiling again!»

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