Better sit down. These are shocking numbers. 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and 4 seconds. That’s how long it took Bruno Peyron and his crew to lap the planet on Orange II. They sailed at an average speed of 22.2 knots, and they didn’t just improve Steve Fossett’s circumnavigation record of 58 days, 9 hours. They obliterated it by 7 days, 17 hours, which is an improvement of about 13 percent. Want some other numbers? Best 24-hour run: 689.4 miles. Days over 600 miles: 12. Improvement in average speed through the water of the boats in The Race (which launched this modern generation): 21 percent.
In the America’s Cup, improvements in boat speed come at fractions of a percent. What Orange II has done is make an entire generation of maxi cats obsolete. There’s no stopping this amazing speedster, which has now nailed two of the big three speed sailing records (24-hour, and circumnavigation). That leaves the transatlantic record from New York to the Lizard, also held by Fossett, as the last major target. And given halfway decent weather, it’s only a matter of getting the boat to New York, hitting the right weather window, and avoiding any smashups, before that record is snatched up, too.
So, where does this impressive cat leave the world of maxi-sailing? In trouble, I would say. There’s no boat in the current generation that can touch Orange II for high average speeds. So forget it, De Kersauson. Forget it, Cam Lewis. Have a seat Dave Scully, Tony Bullimore, and anyone who was thinking about buying Kingfisher or Doha 2006. Raise $10 million, build a new boat, or find something else to do with your lives. Fossett’s Cheyenne is due for a new mast, and it would be interesting to see whether turboing her with a more powerful wingmast, and taking weight off with PBO rigging could get her into the same league. But where will the money and determination come from? Fossett is off flying airplanes, and effectively retired from the speed sailing game. Franck Cammas is getting ready to launch a new, giant tri, and that boat could be the only real competitor on the horizon. But the big multihull game has just gone from a field of 5 to a field of, maybe, 2. Interesting. Bruno Peyron started the whole maxi-multi revolution. And he may have killed it, too. My money says the focus will shift to breaking the 50 knot barrier, and the head to head solo competition between Ellen MacArthur and Francis Joyon…
Class Killer: “Congratulations, Bruno. Now what the f*ck are we going to do?…”
The Earthist Chronicles 