Work Boat World, Ships & Shipping and Ausmarine editorial – May 2010
How many modern vessels, even nuclear powered military ones, could cover 21,760 nautical miles at an average speed of almost 19 knots?
I can't think of many, if any. Nevertheless, the feat has been accomplished, entirely under sail! No smelly diesel, steam turbines or "nasty" nuclear power required. Just high tech fabric sails boosted from time-to-time by a bit of manpower.
The record-breaking vessel was a 31-metre trimaran 'Groupama 3' which circumnavigated the globe, from Brest to Brest via the three great capes in 48 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes and 52 seconds to be exact. An average speed, if you can't be bothered to work it out, of 18.76 knots for the course of 21,760 nautical miles that was covered.
Skipper Franck Cammas, who is one of the great stars of France's enthusiastically supported sailing firmament, was assisted by a highly experienced and obviously determined crew of nine. They took more than two days, eight and a half hours off the previous record. Quite rightly, they now hold the very prestigious Jules Verne Trophy.
Given the nature of the beast it is obvious that to average nearly nineteen knots, some amazing top speeds must have been reached, presumably well into the forties.
'Groupama 3', quite clearly, has about the same kind of relationship to an OSV, tug, tanker, container ship or ferry as a Formula One racing car has to a truck or bus. However, as we are so often told by our motor racing friends, many Formula One developments eventually trickle "down" to day-to-day motor vehicles.
The same relationships to working vessels will no doubt apply to record breakers like 'Groupama 3'. Racing, one way or another, always improves the breed. Hull shapes, construction materials, bottom finishes and many other similar factors contribute significantly to this kind of record breaking. So do techniques such as super accurate weather routeing.
Even if it had no beneficial effect on normal craft this record breaking activity is very exciting stuff. Franck Cammas and his crew will be unable to rest on their laurels for long. It is rumoured that the L'Hydroptere Project is building a large hydrofoil assisted trimaran for an attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy. They have to be taken seriously as have already averaged better than 50 knots on two open sea attempts on the world sailing speed record. That project intends to circle the globe at an average speed of better than 20 knots.
While neither 'Groupama 3' nor 'L'Hydroptere' carry much cargo or do any work en route it is the technological development they inspire that will eventually make a difference.
Neil Baird
Editor-in-Chief