IDEC SPORT is a racing sailing trimaran designed for transoceanic record-setting. She is one of the world's fastest ocean-going sailing vessels and the current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy for circumnavigation of the world. She was originally skippered by French yachtsman Franck Cammas, with a crew of ten and sponsored by the French insurance company Groupama. She is currently skippered by Françis Joyon.
Design
Groupama 3 was designed by VPLP and built by Multiplast in Vannes, France.
Career
Groupama 3 was launched on June 7, 2006. She was the transatlantic record holder between 2007 and 2009. During a first attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy in 2008, Groupama 3 capsized off the coast of New-Zealand. She was repaired in France and went for another attempt in 2009. Damage to the port hull led to the attempt being called off after 11 days, and the boat limped into Cape Town for repairs. She then returned to France Groupama 3 began her third attempt and on January 31, 2010. On March 20, 2010, she became the fastest boat to sail around the world and set a record of 48 days, 7 hours 44 minutes and 52 seconds, improving on Orange II's performance from 2005 by more than 2 days. She lost the record on January 7, 2012, to Banque Populaire V, a larger trimaran. In 2010, she was retrofitted for single-handed racing to take part of the transatlantic race Route du Rhum. In November 2010, Groupama 3 won the French single-handed transatlantic race Route du Rhum, with Frank Cammas at the helm, in 9 days and 14 hours, averaging 16.14 knots. She was sponsored by French bank Banque Populaire to take part of 2014 Route du Rhum, which she won with skipper Loïck Peyron. In November 2014, Banque Populaire VII won Route du Rhum again, with Loick Peyron, in 7 days and 15 hours, beating the record by 2 hours and 10 minutes. In 2015, French yachtsman Francis Joyon's sponsor IDEC announced that they now financed the boat. Under this new sponsorship the boat was leased for six months to Renaud Laplanche, the CEO of Lending Club. The boat was restored from her shortened-mast single-handed configuration to a full crew configuration and named Lending Club 2. Lending Club 2 set a new cross Channel record and a new trans-Pacific record. In September 2015 the boat's sponsorship changed to the IDEC Sport. The team set a new circumnavigation record in 2017 and won back the Jules Verne Trophy with a time of 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds.
Records
Route du Rhum 2018, Francis Joyon set a new record in 7 d 14h 21 min and 47 seconds for his seventh participation.
Trans-Mediterranean, 458 miles, in 17 hours 8 minutes 23 seconds, 16 May 2009 with an average speed of 26.04 knots.
Route of the discovery, 3884 miles, in 7 days 10 hours 58 minutes 53 seconds, 4 June 2007, with an average speed of 21.7 knots.
Miami-New York, 947 miles, in 1 day 11 hours 5 minutes and 20 seconds, 4 June 2007, with an average speed of 27 knots.
Transatlantic record, in 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes 54 seconds, with an average speed of 29.81 knots, in 2007. The record passed to Pascal Bidegorry on Banque Populaire V in August 2009.
24 hour distance record on 20 July 2007 during their transatlantic attempt, and held the record until it was bettered by Pascal Bidegorry on Banque Populaire V in August 2009.
