Francis Joyon moved to Code Green, which means he may be leaving tomorrow (Saturday) to attempt to smash the solo Mauritius Route record between Port Louis (Brittany) and Port Louis (Mauritius). If the weather opportunity is confirmed, the skipper of the maxi-trimaran IDEC SPORT will leave his home port of la Trinité-sur-Mer on Saturday 19th October between eight and nine in the morning (local time) to make his way to the start line off the Citadel of Port Louis (Morbihan). His 8800 mile voyage can then begin. The time to beat: 26 days, 4 hours and 13 minutes.
Francis’s weather advisor and router, who will remain ashore, Christian Dumard tells us about the conditions for the start of the record. “Francis should set off in a 10-12 knot Westerly and so sail upwind for a few hours. There will then be a transition with fairly light conditions as the wind shifts. From Sunday morning, Francis will benefit from a fairly strong northerly wind (20-25 knots). The exit from the Bay of Biscay should offer decent conditions. The trade winds are likely to be strong until the Canaries and then ease off somewhat as he approaches the Cape Verde Islands. Except for the first few hours, the whole of this first stretch should involve downwind sailing.”
