Collision Forces Retreat
In the early hours of Tuesday, December 3, while navigating through winds of 25-30 knots, the SVR-Lazartigue trimaran impacted an unidentified floating object approximately 500 miles from the Azores and 600 miles from Cape Verde. The impact caused significant damage to the starboard foil, a critical component for maintaining the boat’s performance and speed.
After analysing the damage, Gabart and the crew made the difficult decision to turn back. The vessel is now en route to Concarneau, France, its home port, with an expected arrival between Friday and Sunday, weather permitting.
Preparing for a Swift Restart
While the setback is a blow to the team’s initial attempt, their commitment to the Jules Verne Trophy remains steadfast. Plans are already in motion to replace the damaged foil with a spare, allowing the team to relaunch their attempt as soon as a suitable weather window presents itself.
“This is part of the nature of offshore racing,” said Gabart. “While setbacks like these are always disappointing, they are also opportunities to regroup, problem-solve, and come back stronger.”
The Jules Verne Trophy Challenge
Named after the famous author of Around the World in Eighty Days, the Jules Verne Trophy is a non-stop, round-the-world sailing challenge that tests the limits of human endurance and technological innovation. With competitors striving to set the fastest circumnavigation time, any delays can severely impact their window of opportunity.
Gabart’s team entered the 2024/2025 edition of the race with high hopes, leveraging the cutting-edge technology of the SVR-Lazartigue trimaran. Despite this initial setback, their swift action highlights their determination to stay in contention.
What’s Next?
The coming days will be critical for Gabart and his team. The return journey to Concarneau will allow the crew to conduct further inspections and refine their repair strategy. Weather conditions will also play a crucial role in dictating when they can resume their pursuit of the Jules Verne Trophy.
The team will restart the competition as soon as a viable weather window opens. They will have to sail through the same weather that impacted other global yacht races such as the Vendée Globe (www.boatingnz.co.nz/vendeeglobe), in its own right that race is under attack from big weather today and they sail through a large, vigorous front.
