Gitana 13

Loïck Peyron - A Candid Chat with the Jedi Master

Fred Eagle — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:54:51 +0000

YachtPals.com 03 Nov
Loïck Peyron - A Candid Chat with the Jedi Master

As the Vendée Globe fast approaches, Loïck Peyron is preparing his 60 foot yacht Gitana 80 on the pontoons of Les Sables d'Olone for what will be her maiden voyage around the globe. Loïck is no stranger to circumnavigation; this will be his third time traversing the world by yacht, and his second participation in the Vendée Globe.

Vendée Globe

New Sailing Record for Gitana 13 - Hong Kong to London

YachtPals — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:04:35 +0000

YachtPals.com 26 Sep
New Sailing Record for Gitana 13 - Hong Kong to London

London, UK - The maxi-catamaran Gitana 13 sailed past the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge on the River Thames Thursday, setting a new sailing reference record on the Tea Route with a time of 41 days 21 hours 26 minutes 34 seconds from Hong Kong to London. Lionel Lemonchois and his nine crew sailed over 15,312 miles at an average speed of 15.23 knots on their trusted boat, and the joy on their faces as they arrived in the early hours of the morning clearly showed they were proud of their stellar performance.

Gitana 13

Sailing Photo of the Week - Gitana 13

YachtPals — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:57:49 +0000

YachtPals.com 25 Sep
Sailing Photo of the Week - Gitana 13

Yvan Zedda has taken some incredible photos of the huge catamaran Gitana 13, but this is the YachtPals favorite. No wonder the world class crew of this amazing sailboat has smashed every record they have set their sights on in the last several months - just watch that yacht fly!

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Tackles the Tea Route

YachtPals — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:22:22 +0000

YachtPals.com 14 Aug
Gitana 13 Tackles the Tea Route

Hong Kong - Lionel Lemonchois and the crew of Gitana 13 have cast off the docklines for yet another record attempt. This time, it's the old clipper route from Hong Kong to London known as the "tea route," a 14,000+ mile marathon that will give the crew a chance to think of days of old as they cover the same shipping route that connected East and West for centuries. It looks as though Gitana 13 is the first Maxi (certainly of its class) to attempt this record, currently held since 1990 by Philippe Monnet.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 at the Gate - Photo

Fred Eagle — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:15:11 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 08 Jun
Gitana 13 at the Gate - Photo

Gitana 13 - Photo

Fred Eagle — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:22:03 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 06 Jun
Gitana 13 - Photo

Flying a hull onboard Gitana 13 in SF - Photo

Fred Eagle — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:11:21 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 04 Jun
Flying a hull onboard Gitana 13 in SF - Photo

Gitana 13 in SF below deck - Photo

Fred Eagle — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:21:51 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 04 Jun
Gitana 13 in SF below deck - Photo

Lionel Lemonchois in SF

Fred Eagle — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:28:11 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 04 Jun
Lionel Lemonchois in SF

Gitana 13 crew in SF - Photo

Fred Eagle — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:46:57 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 04 Jun
Gitana 13 crew in SF - Photo

Gitana 13 in SF - Photo

Fred Eagle — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:38:00 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 03 Jun
Gitana 13 in SF - Photo

Gitana 13 Yokohama Japan to Dalian - Blog

Nicolas Raynaud — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:22:25 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

After a stopover in Japan for almost a month, to within one night, we’re going to ‘miss’ our first earthquake! Lionel, Zolive and the two ‘newcomers' aboard, namely Jean-Baptiste Levaillant and Antoine Mermod, wondered which position it was best to adopt whilst their bed, situated on the thirteenth floor of our hotel, began to shake at around two in the morning. Level 3 on the Richter Scale according to a sober announcement on the CNN news. As regards the rest of the crew, including your humble servant, the sandman had us in his grip… to their deep regret!

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 in Yokohama Japan

YachtPals — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:08:59 +0000

YachtPals.com 11 Apr
Gitana 13 in Yokohama Japan

We have received more photos in from the crew of the maxi-catamaran Gitana 13 in Yokohama Japan. As you have read here at YachtPals.com Gitana 13 added the North Pacific crossing to its list of conquests this week by sailing the 4,482 theoretical miles from San Francisco to Yokohama in just 11 days 12 minutes and 55 seconds.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Crew in Yokohama - Photo

YachtPals — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:41:21 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 10 Apr
Gitana 13 Crew in Yokohama - Photo

Gitana 13 Skipper - Interview with Lionel Lemonchois

YachtPals — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:58:52 +0000

YachtPals.com 10 Apr
Gitana 13 Skipper - Interview with Lionel Lemonchois

Lionel Lemonchois hours after beating the world sailing record San Francisco to Yokohama on Gitana 13

11 days 12 minutes 55 seconds, what do you think of your new time?
“It’s a great time and we’re really happy. Given the weather conditions before we set out, I told myself that if we did it in 12 days it would be a good performance already. And, to look at our average speed over the actual distance covered is very honourable.”

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Smashes San Francisco to Yokohama Record!

YachtPals — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:12:50 +0000

YachtPals.com 09 Apr
Gitana 13 Smashes San Francisco to Yokohama Record!

Just in: Gitana 13 has reached Yokohama with a time of 11 days 12 minutes 55 seconds, smashing the previous record from San Francisco, and setting the bar very high for future challengers.

We're in touch with the Lionel and the crew, and will have more on the historic trip once they've had a chance to get through the fanfare and have a rest.

Our congratulations to the crew, both those onboard and those in support. We hope you're not getting bored with all this record-breaking!

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 - Let’s Talk Records - Crew Blog

Nicolas Raynaud — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:03:13 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

This Pacific crossing will end with an objective reached: that of considerably improving on the current record time. Of course, the time we’re going to set will be broken someday, but it certainly won’t be easy. It is worth pointing out that this crossing cannot be sailed along the great circle route, that is the shortest distance between San Francisco and Yokohama (4,482 miles). Due to the roundness of the earth, this theoretical route would shave the Aleutians, a string of islands which separate the Pacific from the Bering Sea.

Gitana 13

Life Aboard Gitana 13 - Below Decks

YachtPals — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:45:49 +0000

YachtPals.com 09 Apr
Life Aboard Gitana 13 - Below Decks

YachtPals.com was honored to be invited aboard Gitana 13 to meet her skipper, and watch as the catamaran was rigged to break the world sailing record from San Francisco to Yokohama. Watching the crew ready this world record sailboat is a rather humbling experience. The size of the catamaran and her massive sails is far beyond what most of us are familiar with, and watching her rigged with ease is truly an amazing sight.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Galley - Photo

YachtPals — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:12:12 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 09 Apr
Gitana 13 Galley - Photo

Gitana 13 - 100 Miles from Finish Line

YachtPals — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:03:45 +0000

YachtPals.com 09 Apr
Gitana 13 - 100 Miles from Finish Line

Gitana 13 - San Francisco to Yokohama

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Nearing Finish Line in Japan

YachtPals — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:31:24 +0000

YachtPals.com 08 Apr
Gitana 13 Nearing Finish Line in Japan

Gitana 13 has now spent over nine days at sea and is now positioned less than 500 miles from the finish in Japan. However, the last few hours at sea, in this North Pacific record attempt, promise to be a bit intense for Lionel Lemonchois and his ten crew.

The maxi-catamaran Gitana 13 is fast approaching the finish, but vigilance is key aboard the 33 metre sailboat. Indeed, to complete the North Pacific crossing, Lionel Lemonchois and his crew will have a sizeable obstacle to tackle: a disturbance and its associated warm and cold fronts.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Blog - On the back of the waves

Nicolas Raynaud — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:01:29 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Prepared for the storm, prepared for the home straight. Before the wind gets too strong, that is over 35 knots or so, we've stowed the downwind sails in the gangway. Between here and Yokohama we’ll no longer be able to make use of them as there will be too much wind and too big a sea. Rather than leave them on deck – which is always a source for potential worries even when they’re firmly attached to the platform, better to place them where they will be the most effective, that is down below to lower the boat's centre of gravity as much as possible.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Navigation Station - Photo

YachtPals — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:17:01 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 08 Apr
Gitana 13 Navigation Station - Photo

Gitana 13 Sleeping Quarters - Photo

YachtPals — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:19:57 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 08 Apr
Gitana 13 Sleeping Quarters - Photo

Gitana 13 - Smooth Seas - Blog

Nicolas Raynaud — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:08:15 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

At 0951 UT, but 2151 local time, we crossed the international date line under gennaker and full mainsail. There are smooth seas and starry skies and we've just finished rounding the volcanic arc of Hawaii. On crossing this symbolic line where you switch over from west to east, we have to reset our watches. We’re going straight from the evening of Friday 4th to the evening of Saturday 5th, so as to stay firmly in touch with the reality of our world. The difference with the Greenwich meridian, which was increasing all the time, is that it will now begin to decrease.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 - The Shortest of Days - Blog

Nicolas Raynaud — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:38:32 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

The miles are rolling by and the sheets are heating up on the winches as easing them has become necessary to control Gitana 13, which is climbing high up into the air. With the large gennaker, full mainsail and at times the genoa staysail, which we furl in or unfurl on request, there is over 1,000 m2 of sail area, pulling us towards the goal. The ‘NEE'ly’ wind, as we often call it, shifty both in strength and direction, jumps from 23 to 30 knots without any problem, oscillating between 50 and 80°.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 at Midway Mark San Francisco to Yokohama

YachtPals — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:07:54 +0000

YachtPals.com 04 Apr
Gitana 13 at Midway Mark San Francisco to Yokohama

Gitana 13 left San Francisco on Saturday March 29th at 22h45’45’’UT in a bid to smash the North Pacific crossing record from San Francisco to Yokohama. Skipper Lionel Lemonchois and his ten crew are now spending their sixth day at sea this Friday. The maxi-catamaran Gitana 13 is already approaching the symbolic halfway mark! With their lead of over 585 miles on the reference time, the second half of the course for the men of Gitana 13 looks very good for blasting the sailing record currenly held by the yacht Geronimo.

Gitana 13

A Very Good Day on Gitana 13 - Blog

Nicolas Raynaud — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:06:48 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

The albatrosses of California, flying fish, a deep blue sky, a small gennaker which we’re getting between 28 and 32 knots of headway out of… these past 24 hours have been idyllic. It was Hawaii in Hawaii, even if we left the islands a long way to the south of us.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Scrapbook

Lionel Lemonchois — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:22:02 +0000

YachtPals.com - Online Cruising Guides

This is the front page of the Gitana 13 Scrapbook. Photos and information about the Gitana 13.

Gitana 13

Life on Gitana 13 - Sailing Blog

Nicolas Raynaud — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:51:44 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

In the throes of a passing front

31/03/2008

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 First Days at Sea

YachtPals — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:58:07 +0000

YachtPals.com 31 Mar
Gitana 13 First Days at Sea

Gitana 13 skipper Lionel Lemonchois and his ten man crew are busy making the second record of their 2008 campaign: the North Pacific crossing (San Francisco - Yokohama).

This 4,482 miles long course record (great circle route) has been held since the 27th of April 2006 by Olivier de Kersauson and his crew aboard the maxi-trimaran Geronimo.

The time to beat is 14 days 22 hours 40 minutes and 41 seconds.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Sailing in San Francisco Bay - Photo

peter-lyons — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:31:07 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 30 Mar
Gitana 13 Sailing in San Francisco Bay - Photo

Gitana 13 out the Golden Gate - Photo

peter-lyons — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:11:26 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 30 Mar
Gitana 13 out the Golden Gate - Photo

Gitana 13 Heads out the Gate - San Francisco

YachtPals — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:06:12 +0000

YachtPals.com 30 Mar
Gitana 13 Heads out the Gate - San Francisco

Gitana 13 has headed out the Golden Gate in San Francisco, bound for another world record in Japan.

Check back at YachtPals.com later for more photos of Gitana 13 sailing in the San Francisco Bay, and under the Golden Gate bridge.

Good luck guys!

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Leaving Dock in San Francisco Bay - Video

johnn — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:59:20 +0000

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Leaving Dock - Photo

johnn — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:23:00 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 29 Mar
Gitana 13 Leaving Dock - Photo

YachtPal on Gitana 13 - San Francisco Bay

YachtPals — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:13:02 +0000

YachtPals.com 29 Mar
YachtPal on Gitana 13 - San Francisco Bay

Lionel Lemonchois and the crew of the Gitana 13 were kind enough to invite YachtPals aboard this morning to meet the record-breaking crew, and view the preparations for their next record attempt. Our reporter is aboard the boat as they rig the maxi-catamaran for the long voyage to Japan, with an estimated departure from the gate in just a few minutes.

We'll have more on our exclusive interview with Lionel Lemonchois soon. For now, we are being sent live photos from onboard Gitana 13, and here are a few to hold you over.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Rigging for Sea - Photo

johnn — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:02:04 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 29 Mar
Gitana 13 Rigging for Sea - Photo

Gitana 13 in San Francisco Preparing for Japan

YachtPals — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:54:04 +0000

YachtPals.com 26 Mar
Gitana 13 in San Francisco Preparing for Japan

While the crew of the Gitana 13 catamaran are in San Francisco preparing for their North Pacific record attempt, certain members of Gitana Team, led by Loïck Peyron, benefited from the long Easter weekend to take their first victory in the Spi Ouest France, thanks to the race stable created in 2000 by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild.

Gitana 13

Gitana 13 Finish - Photo

johnn — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:19:29 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 29 Feb
Gitana 13 Finish - Photo

Gitana 13 Sailing Under the Golden Gate - Photo

johnn — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:16:13 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 29 Feb
Gitana 13 Sailing Under the Golden Gate - Photo

New Sailing Record - New York to San Francisco - Gitana 13

YachtPals — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:48:26 +0000

YachtPals.com 28 Feb
New Sailing Record - New York to San Francisco - Gitana 13

Gitana 13 crossed the finish line of La Route de l’Or off of Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay, at 1707 (UT) today. They have set a new record for this route from New York to San Francisco. After over 43 days 38 minutes at sea, including a forced five and a half day stand-by at Cape Horn, Lionel Lemonchois and his nine crew improved on the reference time held since 1998 by Yves Parlier and his men by 14 days 2 hours and 43 minutes.

Gitana 13

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Gitana 13 off the California Coast

YachtPals — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:46:39 +0000
YachtPals.com 27 Feb
Gitana 13 off the California Coast
The Route de l'Or - After setting out six weeks ago in the conquest of a record never before coveted by a maxi-multihull of Gitana 13’s dimensions, Lionel Lemonchois and his nine crew are experiencing their final hours at sea on this Route de l’Or. However, the weather situation currently reigning off the California coast, is forcing the men of Gitana Team into a ser

Gitana 13

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Gitana 13 - Final Sprint to San Francisco

YachtPals — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:40:36 +0000
YachtPals.com 26 Feb
Gitana 13 - Final Sprint to San Francisco

The Route de l'Or - After setting out from New York over thirty nine days ago to challenge the Route de l’Or record, Gitana 13 passed under the symbolic barrier of 1,000 miles to go, shortly before midnight last night. Currently off the coast of Mexico (State of Lower Southern Carolina), Lionel Lemonchois and his nine crew are on the final sprint to San Francisco.

Gitana 13

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Final Sprint for Gitana 13

YachtPals — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:48:56 +0000
YachtPals.com 21 Feb
Final Sprint for Gitana 13
Gitana 13 The Route de l'Or - The fifth week at sea for Gitana 13 in the Route de l’Or has been marked by a change of hemisphere, and by the crossing of the tricky Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone. Setting out from New York on 16th January, they are currently positioned less than 2,050 miles from the final destination of San Francisco, after 35 days sailing.

Gitana 13

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Gitana 13 Crew Shocked by Groupama 3 Capsize

YachtPals — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:00:53 +0000
YachtPals.com 19 Feb
Gitana 13 Crew Shocked by Groupama 3 Capsize
Gitana 13 - The Route de l'Or: Lionel Lemonchois and his nine-man crew are again plying northern-hemisphere waters. They crossed the equator today, Tuesday 19 February, at 1:56’39’’ (French time), at a longitude of 97°W. Team Gitana thus spent 26 days 17 hours and 32 minutes covering the 7,500 miles between equator crossings in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Gitana 13

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Gitana 13 Sails up the Coast of Chile

YachtPals — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:37:53 +0000
YachtPals.com 15 Feb
Gitana 13 Sails up the Coast of Chile
The Route de l'Or - New York to San Francisco: Four weeks have already gone by since Gitana 13 left New York on 16 January. After an epic passage around Cape Horn — the ten sailors had to wait five days before being able to round the famous rock due to poor weather — Lionel Lemonchois and his crew entered the Pacific Ocean in blustery condition.

Gitana 13

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Rounding the Horn - Gitana13

YachtPals — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:57:52 +0000
YachtPals.com 11 Feb
Rounding the Horn - Gitana13
As if to compensate Lionel Lemonchois and his team for the five days they had to wait at the door to the Pacific Ocean, the wind god Zephyr accorded his clemency to the men of the maxi-catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild.

Gitana 13

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Off the Coast of Tierra del Fuego - The Battle with Cape Horn

YachtPals — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:41:38 +0000
YachtPals.com 05 Feb
Off the Coast of Tierra del Fuego - The Battle with Cape Horn
On 16 January, Lionel Lemonchois and his nine-man crew on Gitana 13 set out on their attempt to break the record on the Route de l'Or - New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn. But the ten sailors onboard the maxi-catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild have been held up since Saturday evening by the tumult common at the tip of South America.

Gitana 13

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