Zen Again 118

 

Dee Caffari, renowned British round the world racer, is hands on and hard at work (centre). Putting her crew through its paces as they prepare for a Jules Verne trophy (fastest round the planet) attempt this autumn. With the Southern Ocean summer season fast approaching, now is the time to make ready.

The boat, holds the current crewed record. Set with Francis Joyon as skipper, in 2017, it still stands eight years later. Despite annual attempts to claim it. And the advent of the foiling Ultim trimarans. For this, older, tri is a daggerboard boat. Albeit those boards are so curved that they are more than halfway to foils.

The team, is The Famous Project. Co-skippered by Alexia Barrier and Dee Caffari. Their crew includes Marie Tabarly (daughter of the late sailing legend, Eric Tabarly) together with an international cast of up and coming female racers.

Their goal is twofold: To set a new women’s crewed round the world sailing speed record. And to beat Francis Joyon's time, of 40 days, to create a new crewed record, outright.

The hive of activity aboard, is strangely at odds with the tranquil beach scenes beyond.