NEWS : Sodeb'O bound for New York
15.06.2009
Alexis et Thomas hissant la grand voile
Today, Monday 15th June, Thomas and his Sodeb'oys left La Trinité-sur-Mer aboard the maxi Sodeb'O for a transatlantic delivery trip, bound for New York. The current record holder will be on standby in Gateway marina to the south of Brooklyn from the end of June till mid August.
Since 12th May, Thomas Coville and his maxi Sodeb'O have been waiting and hoping for a favourable weather window to set off on an attempt at the Discovery Route Record (Cadiz - San Salvador). With conditions not having been favourable, the sailor and his maxi trimaran set off today on another adventure: the Single-handed North Atlantic record (New York – Lizard Point).
This transatlantic delivery trip promises to be studious for Thomas and his crew, who fully intend to make the most of this navigation to validate the technical choices made during the post Round the World refit. “I am obviously very happy to be heading out to sea again on Sodeb'O! These past few months on land have given us a chance to implement a series of innovations on the trimaran. We are all keen to see the contributions they’ve made to the boat’s performance, as well as what new fields of investigation this will open up” explained the skipper a few hours before taking to the water.
The crew which is accompanying Thomas is made up of Thierry Briend, boat captain of the maxi Sodeb'O. Alexis Aveline, engineer in charge of the electronics, computers, telecommunications and automatic pilots. Sidney Gavignet, a French sailor with the most rounded top level sailing career. Up to the start of this month, the latter was competing in the crewed round the world (Volvo Ocean Race) aboard the yacht Puma. The final guest aboard is Anthony Marchand, a young skipper from the Figaro circuit. “A happy medium between experience and youth!” admits Thomas.
As regards the weather, the situation isn’t ideal for the start of the crossing, but the maxi trimaran is likely to be able to slip along as far as Cape Finistère and duck beneath the current ridge of high pressure, targeting the Azores before the arrival of the next disturbed system.
Thomas and his Sodeb'oys are expected into Gateway marina to the south of Brooklyn in around ten days.
Par Hurth : Plein de réussite pour le calendrier 2010, refais-nous vibrer comme les années précédentes. A bientôt. Par Vanessa : Quel programme pour 2010 !!! Je te souhaite de grandes victoires et je suis certaine que tu y parviendra. 2010, c'est ton année Thomas !!! Je te suivrai de près en tout cas.
