After her recent record attempt and new reference time set between Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Hong Kong, the crew of the IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran took advantage of the festive season to get some well-deserved rest. After arriving back in Hong Kong late last week, the crew headed for Shenzhen, where the boat is currently taking part in promotional operations organised by the IDEC Group. The maxi-trimaran will be heading for Hong Kong on Thursday morning to go on stand-by for her attempt at the Tea Route record between Hong Kong and London, the fourth and final Act of the IDEC SPORT ASIAN TOUR, which may well start late this week.
The IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran and her crew have been present for several days in the port of Shenzhen, a key location in China for the IDEC GROUP, which invited around 150 guests including the French Consul in Guangzhou, Mrs. Siv Leng Chhuor, as well as some of their clients, Chinese partners and other French firms based in China. This stopover was organised with the support of the China Cup, with whom the IDEC GROUP has signed an agreement to promote sailing in China.
After a tour of the boat and a presentation of the IDEC SPORT ASIAN TOUR, Patrice Lafargue, CEO of the IDEC Group, presented to 150 professionals the reasons why the IDEC SPORT maxi-trimaran was present in China, the connection with the international development of the IDEC GROUP and the projects currently being developed in several business parks around the country.
Start of the Tea Route record late this week
The fourth and final Act of the IDEC SPORT ASIAN TOUR, the Tea Route record between Hong Kong and London is the most important in terms of racing and is due to start late this week.
The crew of IDEC SPORT includes her skipper Francis Joyon and four crewmen, Bertrand Delesne, Christophe Houdet, Corentin Joyon and Antoine Blouet, who will set sail from Hong Kong where the boat will be moored off the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Ahead of them a long voyage of 15,000 miles (around 28,000 km) starting with a crossing of the China Sea, a passage through the Sunda Strait, a crossing of the Indian Ocean, the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope and the climb back up the South and North Atlantic, before they enter the English Channel and sail up the Thames to finish under the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in London.
36 days, 2 hours and 37 minutes…
The time they will be aiming to beat in this Tea Route record has been held since 23rd February 2018 by the Multi70, Maserati skippered by the Italian, Giovanni Soldini with a time of 36 days, 2 hours and 37 minutes, sailing at an average speed of 17.4 knots (source: WSSRC).
