Loïck Peyron smashes Round The World record

  

 

Nine months after winning the Barcelona World Race alongside Jean-Pierre Dick, Loïck Peyron flew across the seas on board Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire V at thrilling average speeds of 26.51 knots, taking 45 days, 13 hours and 53 seconds to go all the way around the world, covering a total of 29,002 miles.

 

These figures mean that Peyron has managed to knock the world record previously set by Franck Cammas on Groupama 3 by 2 days, 18 hours, 1 minute and 59 seconds, a record set in March 2010. Experts have described the record as out of this world.

 

Among the thrirteen crew on board for the record was Joan Vila, Navigator. For Vila this success is another peak in his spectacular career and in the words of Peyron himself, this seals his reputation as "the best Navigator in the world". This Navigator from Barcelona boasts an impressive track record. He has taken part in two Whitbread's and two Volvo Ocean Races, as well being the only Spaniard to have ever won the latter: with Illbruck Challenge in 2002. He's taken part in five editions of the America's Cup, winning the Cup in the two most recent editions with Team Alinghi. On reaching Brest following this spectacular record, Joan explained why this record is so special for him:  "There's no doubt that this has been one of the most exciting moments of my entire life. The America's Cup win in Valencia was big, but this is incredible."

 

As Navigator on Banque Populaire V, Joan has been working with Marcel Van Triest who was in charge of the routing from on shore, an essential task on records of this kind. From his base in the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca, Marcel, who was also in charge of meteorology for the Barcelona World Race was in direct contact with Joan, tracing out the strategy that took the crew to set this stratospheric record. 

 

Nine months after crossing the finishing line of the Barcelona World Race Loïck has taken another fantastic triumph to add to a second place finish in the Vendée Globe and The Race, as well as the six transatlantic wins under his belt. His schedule makes no room for holidays and just like he did just one day after setting foot in Barcelona, Loïck is diving straight into America's Cup preparations as leader of Team Energy.

 

Upon arrival at Brest Loïck said: "The mood on board? Excitement and elation! Our memories are brimming with beautiful images: the start, the icebergs, the albatross, the Kerguelen Islands... When you sail around the world in 45 days you see so many things, but one we didn't see this time was Cape Horn...but that gripe is erased completely by the record we've got in our hands now. We are very proud! We put our trust in each other and that's what has really pushed us through the pressure. That confidence was key."