Historical multihulls

Here are two modern trimarans that are "historic" in their achievements. Francis Joyon's IDEC and Thomas Coville's "Sodebo". Thomas has now challenged the record twice without being able to better Joyon's near perfect singlehanded circumnavigation on "IDEC II". Joyon also held the record previously on the 90' trimaran "IDEC" which sadly went aground and was destroyed when he fell asleep after taking the solo Atlantic record. The record was bettered by Ellen McCarthur on the 75' B&Q Castorama trimaran until it was smashed again by Francis Joyon on IDEC II.

http://www.bymnews.com/july/sodebo.html

Here is a story of Thomas Coville's inspiring sportsmanship on returning home when he just missed out on the record.

http://www.thedailysail.com/offshore/11/58328/0/sodebo-finishes-3-hours-10-hours-short-of-joyons-record

An article about Ellen McCarthur's solo circumnavigation in 2005

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/sailing/4229079.stm

An article about IDEC II and Francis Joyon's record breaking solo circumnavigation (the current record).

http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/sports/fastest_round_the_world_sailing_world_record_set_by_Francis_Joyon_80127.htm

 

Gotta love Francis Joyon and his voyages, but the original IDEC wasn't an ORMA 60, I believe Olivier De Kersauson (of Geronimo tri) originally had her built as Poulain in the mid 80's (also named Charal and Sport-Elec) originally 75-80 ft long, lengthened to 90 ft when Joyon did his circumnavigation. Also, she went aground after Joyons transatlantic record not the circumnavigation,

Pretty good effort for a nearly 20 year old tri

DAVE

 

Thanks. Here is an article about the loss of "IDEC"

http://www.thedailysail.com/offshore/05/33541/setting-an-outstanding-record-yesterday-joyons-idec-trimaran-ran-aground-last-nigh

 

Here's a couple more of Gavin's Auckland shots: Supplejack's too fine (but rakish?) bows; they were made more voluminous later with straighter stems and foam/glass below - but we survived with them okay, even though they would go deck flush waterline when gusts came through.
The other is David Barker's drawings of Great Barrier Express details - and the Twink McCabe photograph.

 

I found this a photo of hydraplaneur, that some might find interesting.
In a 2004 multihull world magazine.

 

Outstanding & Thank you so much Gary. There is just so much detail in the pictures - if one expands them & if they know what they are looking for. Yes - Yes & Yes. I got up to 200 expanded before distortion & learned so much more about our history. David's drawings are just so - well - just so David. Notice a slight lean in the c/l sketch - middle right & thought that David just can help himself. What a talented artist he truely is.
Not many designers ever kept the front beam as far back as David. 'Sundancer' is some 7' plus back from the bow. Not sure about 'Sundreamer' but would think it was more in feet but the same in proportion though.
Looking back - 'Supplejack's bow was sure fine - was it not. On that note.

I can remember sailing Lockies 'B' class design 'Mystery' - any which way - up-wind, off the breeze or dead down-wind & both bows were almost always burried to the max - - Oh what fun - pulling the sheets on harder & harder & waiting to see if they popped up or we went over. Never went over but we sure did go down a long way before it finally leveled & came back to the surface. Wow - what fun. I'd do it all over again but this time much faster & closer to the edge. Thanks, ciao, james

Thanks so much. Ciao, james

 

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One little historical footnote to the design of both Idec and Sodebo: originally they were built without ama foils but the structure was suitably reinforced in case they desided to add them. Both boats added curved lifting ama foils as time went by......

 

Thats true although Joyon's IDEC II did not have float lifting foils fitted when he set the record for the solo circumnavigation. The weather particularly the St Helena high has a huge impact on the time, Joyon was lucky a break in the weather let him slip through that area quickly. Coville sailed much further on Sodebo and just missed out on taking the record. The weather gods have to be on your side too.

 

I think that "if ye lift thyself up to the weather gods on carbon wings they do verily smile" or something like that......

 

LOL. Doug.

 

Seriously Doug, thats funny I bet Coville was fervently praying to those weather gods! I felt really sorry for him as he languished with the wind dead on his nose while the record time ticked away. I read somewhere that VPLP found a 3-5% improvement in average speed when curved lifting foils were used on an otherwise optimised platform. Now all Tom needs is the right weather pattern and Sodebo with it's carbon wings should do the trick

 

I still haven't forgiven him for using engines to power things, he may have upset the wind gods....Joyon's record is really a different category.

 

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"Wired" What a great boat. Paul.

 

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The start of the 1968 Sydney to Hobart Multihull race, the one & only time they have raced to Hobart. Paul