Dee Caffari - The Famous Project

[John_Silver]

Out of the doldrums BUT with a 1600nm deficit

 

[John_Silver]

Half Full: delta reduced to 1200nm
Half Empty: 7kts SOG with (forecast overlay prediction of) 15kts of breeze on the quarter. Wind hole? mid manoeuvre? technical trouble?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

That sounds like tech trouble. 15kn on the quarter, you’d find it hard to do 7kn on just the mast.

 

[jlavery]

And delta of > 1,000nm seems irrecoverable. Unless the current holder (Joyon?) had a big slowdown later.

 

[John_Silver]

And delta of > 1,000nm seems irrecoverable. Unless the current holder (Joyon?) had a big slowdown later.

.....'fraid I have to agree. Francis Joyon pushed hard, kept the boat in one piece and enjoyed a near perfect sequence of weather in 2017. Before Dee & Co entered the doldrums, there was talk (perhaps in Voiles et Voiliers? can't remember) about them needing to average 30kts to recover the deficit.......
The good news is that no time has been set for an all female Jules Verne. So, the Famous Project has that benchmark to set (one of their stated goals). It seems, from today's live stream, as if that's what they are going for. Molly LaPointe (boat captain) was on the mic. She talked about a rig check (perhaps explaining the 7kts SOG, briefly, this morning) to be ready for the Southern Ocean. Sounded as if she was relishing getting down there.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I’ll leave the Southern Ocean to them. We rather enjoy 15kn on the quarter though.

 

[John_Silver]

After freeing off the port helm, en route to the equator, it is the turn of the starboard wheel to jam today. Hopefully not a portent of problems to come. Despite this distraction, Alexia Barrier still found time to talk to V&V:



I knew that this was a (relatively) low budget Jules Verne attempt, but hadn't appreciated that the Famous Project's sail wardrobe dates back to Francis Joyon's 2022 Route du Rhum. "The equipment is old but very reliable" says Alexia



Perhaps the best insight, to the spirit in which this enterprise is being conducted, is offered by Alexia Barrier's log. Her entry, as IDEC crosses the equator, verges on the poetic. In the tradition of Bernard Moitessier, or Alexia’s contemporary, Thomas Coville. Who is waiting for a weather window, to start a JV attempt of his own. Aboard the fully funded foiling Ultim Sodebo. Original French text (from FB) with my (loose) English translation below.



"Finally I have our stats, for the trip to the equator........Those stats, which claim to reveal all, but know nothing of the sea or the beating hearts of this crew......No medals, no podiums for us.....But we are on the list......The list of inspired madmen: Bruno Peyron, Steve Fossett, Olivier de Kersauson.....We may not be outpacing them, yet we sit at the same table......stand on the shoulders of these giants.....from where, we soar high.... to write our own story.....Chapter one: "Voyage to the Equator."

(Think that is about right - Fluent French speakers please feel free to correct me!)​

 

[John_Silver]

Dee on duty for today's live-stream. Excited to have boarded "the fast train across the bottom of the Atlantic," as they turn east, with a good wind angle (reach) to "cut the corner," off the Cape of Good Hope. Alexia and Dee are "working really hard" with their, shore-based, weather router Christian Dumard, to plan their entry into the Big South. "Looking for enough wind to go fast. But not too much wind...(because).....we haven't experienced this boat in the waves of the South. So, its about building our confidence, before we can properly let rip."​

 

[John_Silver]

Matt Sheahan enlists the help of (designer) Guillaume Verdier, to examine the new face of offshore foiling, at the launch of Ultim Edmond de Rothschild 18. Further insights from skipper Charles Caudrelier and in-house designer Sebastian Sainson. Guillaume adds the concept of "dream speed" to our nautical vocabulary. "We don't want a boat with compromises," says Sebastian. Charles' verdict, on the project? "It's one hundred percent of pleasure."

At the opposite end of the sponsorship spectrum, to the Famous Project, is this the boat to, one day, claim IDEC Sport's / Francis Joyon's Jules Verne crown? Charles reckons that it will take "at least three years to make the boat reliable." For now, team Gitana are "100% focussed on" the Route du Rhum (in November 2026). Speaking of the Famous Project. Here's how week two went (English language / subtitles):

Meanwhile, Thomas Coville & team are in the final stages of preparing the Ultim Sodebo, for a Jules Verne attempt, before their Route du Rhum refit:

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[John_Silver]

Under way again. But unable to hoist the main beyond the second reef. Waiting for flat water (as they enter the Big South) to attempt further repairs.

​

 

[John_Silver]

Full details, from Dee (in English)

“The game’s not over yet……1500 nm to go until we have to make a decision….this is a really hard challenge. Which is why not many people have succeeded….”

​

 

[John_Silver]

IF I have understood Alexia correctly (70% confidence level), the decision is taken, aboard IDEC Sport. It is to continue the "aventure incroyable" into the Big South; and to set a benchmark all-female Jules Verne time ("reference feminine") . Under double reefed main. The failed hook seemingly beyond an unassisted repair (although, Dee said yesterday that the shore team's fertile minds are still at work). Video should open as Alexia explains the situation and their decision (0.26 to 2.15ish ) Auto captions &/or Auto translate may add certainty over the next 24 hours....

The Famous Project have been holding north of the rhumb line. Keeping out of the highest winds/sea state, in the centre of the system that they are presently riding; and (possibly - this is pure speculation) keeping their options open, with a clear line of escape into Cape Town, should it have been required:



EDIT: Confirmation of the GO decision, plus assessment of its consquences, on Voiles et Voiliers




The spirit of adventure remains undimmed, to judge by Alexia’s log

 

[John_Silver]

"Go fast but be ready to save the boat," was the mantra aboard Thomas Coville's Ultim, Sodebo. During Helen Fretter's boat tour, back at the launch.

Today the team are preparing to leave La Base. For a Jules Verne attempt that starts tomorrow:

 

[John_Silver]

Sodebo Jules Verne tracker here They are on the move. Tracker includes a video streaming screen.

 

[John_Silver]

Sodebo's latest Trophee Jules Verne record attempt is off to a good start. They (yellow boat) are out of the blocks, over the first few nm, ahead of the 2017 IDEC Sport (red boat). With the advantage of their foils.



Thomas Coville & Co follow in illustrious footsteps. Here are Loick Peyron and crew setting the 45 day record, in 2011-12, aboard Banque Pop. Fixing the boat, dodging icebergs and driving hard, from an exposed helm, in big conditions.

And here's, the boat that the Famous Project are aboard, IDEC Sport, setting the 40 day record, in 2017, with Francis Joyon as skipper. Successful, at their third attempt, in setting a time which remains unbeaten. As of yet.

 

[John_Silver]

The Famous Project have passed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope and gybed back onto an easterly 9rhumb line) heading.



Whilst the, self styled, 'Sodeboys' streak south. Presently passing the Azores, 128.8nm ahead of IDEC Sport's 2017 pace.

 

[John_Silver]

Only caught snippets, from the audio on yesterday's live, as The Famous Project entered the Indian Ocean. But here's what the team were up against:




This morning, the "Sodeboys" have gybed, to clear the Canaries to windward. They are 215 nm up v's Francis Joyon's record and positioning to cross the doldrums:

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Graphical history, of the Jules Verne record below. Record time along the bottom. Year on the side. All times set by daggerboard boats......a foiler has still to make it round non-stop. (Although, had Charles Caudrelier not been focussed on winning the 2024 Arkea Ultim Challenge, Edmond de Rothschild 17 could have. However, with a commanding lead, the Ultim waited out a Biscay storm in Horta, before crossing the finish line). Are we about to see the 8/9 year old, 40 day, record broken, by a first generation foiling Ultim? Does the launch of gen 2 foiler, Edmond de Rothschild 18, mark the start of a new offshore 'arms race,' during which records will once again tumble?

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[flaming]

Reading some of the comments from on board, they seem to have airbrushed Tracey Edmunds on Royal Sun Alliance out of history...

 

[John_Silver]

Reading some of the comments from on board, they seem to have airbrushed Tracey Edmunds on Royal Sun Alliance out of history...

Well, let's set the record straight! Look out for Sam D "Sam Rigger" (sic) 5 mins in........and subsequently.....The Southern Ocean scenes (second half) are so raw and unfiltered. In terms of sea conditions and crew emotions.

NB there is a typo, in the YouTube descriptor for the video. Tracy Edwards & team made this attempt in 1998 (The year after Olivier de Kersauson's record was set) not 1989.

 

[flaming]

There were some big names on that boat!