Three and a half years after being launched in August 2008 and after her second attempt, the Maxi Banque Populaire V has entered records’ history by taking the Jules Verne Trophy at the end of a navigation of 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds around the globe. Arrived in Brest this morning under the cheers of hundreds of supporters, Loïck Peyron and his crew have just completed an unprecedented exploit, covering 29 002 miles at an average speed of 26.51 knots. After more than twenty years of involvement as a shipowner, the Group Banque Populaire sees once again his loyalty being rewarded. This performance, the holy grail of offshore racing, is the result of the immense work undertook by an outstanding technical team and the cohesiveness of a strong and united group. Congratulations and thank you gentlemen!

Just come off watch, and we are gliding along 'gently' at 23 knots in 14 knots of wind. We have full main and medium gennaker up.

We are approaching the corner of this big, windless High Pressure area, so by this time tomorrow we should be well round the corner and curving our course towards home. We are currently still not 'heading for the barn', unless that barn was in Maine, USA...

"Another year draws to a close and on board Banque Populaire we are hoping the beginning of 2012 is better than the end of 2011! Because since we left the doldrums, we have been reaching in 30 + knots of wind, with a lumpy sea state. Not much fun, and we have reduced sail to 2 reefs and the ORC, which is a large storm jib sail.