The french trimaran Banque Populaire 5 has broken the world record in distance covered in 24 hours. On its way chasing the west-east transatlantic record, the 131 feet multi has avaraged 39.79 knots and peaked at 46 knots. Imagine; the straightout world speed record is only 4 knots faster that that, at 50 knots!!! And these guys are in mid North-Atlantic, not a sheltered waveless bay!!!
The images from this video are absolutley mindboggling. Watch the french sailors have a good time, relaxing and enjoying the ride at 40 knots. Like having a calm drink sitting on a blazing rocket. But make no mistake. This is a highly trained and fully alert crew. The first guy to be interviewed, is holding lookout for whales, ships and ice, and not just enjoying some fresh air. The second guy is probabely manning the mainsheet, and is able to let go at any moment.
Note, how the leeward float keeps its bow out of the water. It is actually kept above the waves by the curved daggerboard and hydrofoil. See board slicing the water under the net.
Banque Populaire is competing against the watch, the brakages and also against another trimaran, Groupama 3. If things stay positive, it is likely that one of these boats will make the record and push the time from New York to the Lizard to just under 4 days. But things can change change dramaticly fast; ice and other ships are a constant threat. Hitting a growler, or maybe a whale, could be catastrophic at 40 knots. A close encounter would probabely scare the shit out af a unattentive whale. A colision would kill it - and the boat.
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