The maxi-trimaran IDEC Sport has sailed into Ho Chi Minh City and dropped anchor en route to Shenzhen, China as part of sailing’s Asian Tour.
At a length of 31.5m and a mast height of 33.5m, the massive IDEC Sport is the world’s fastest sailing boat and three-time winner of the Jules Verne Trophy (2010, 2012, 2017) for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any kind of yacht.
The current record stands at 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds and was skippered by French yachtie Francis Joyon, who is also visiting Ho Chi Minh City as the skipper of the maxi-trimaran for this year’s tour that extends into 2020 for the return journey to London.
This year’s Asian Tour is aiming to break six records during the event, including setting new ones for five brand new race courses during legs between Europe and Asia.
The event started in Lorient, France before rounding the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa – where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet – to its first stop-off Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, an island nation approximately 2,000km off the southeast coast of Africa.
From there, the IDEC Sport embarked on its second leg to Ho Chi Minh City arriving here just under 13 days later on Wednesday Dec.4.
It’s now docked at Nha Rong Port & Cruise Terminal in District 4.
After making its way to Shenzhen, the IDEC Sport will pop over to Hong Kong before setting off on its return trip to London via what’s known in sailing as the Clipper Route via Java, then into the Southern Ocean with the air currents of the “Roaring Forties”.
The IDEC Sport is hoping to beat the time of 36 days and 2 hours for the trip between Hong Kong and London with just one stop-off back in Port Louis, Mauritius.
It departs Ho Chi Minh City on Dec.14.
For more information about the IDEC Sport maxi-trimaran, visit https://www.idecsport.com/en/the-maxi-trimaran/
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