Franck Camma's Groupama 3 holds Jules Verne Record with 48 days 7 hours 44 minutes 52 seconds

The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded to the fastest yacht to sail round the world to and from a specified line off France’s west coast.

The Jules Verne Trophy’s starting point is defined by an imaginary line between the Créac’h lighthouseon Ouessant (Ushant) Island, France, and the Lizard Lighthouse, UK. Circumnavigate the world leaving the capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin, and Horn to port. Cross the starting line in the opposite direction.

Franck Camma

The Jules Verve idea of sailing around the world in under 80 days, was originally conceived by French sailor Yves Le Cornec in 1985. By 1990, rules for the trophy had been put in place.

French skipper Bruno Peyron was the first to hold the trophy in 1993 with a record of  79 days 6 hours and 15 minutes and 56 seconds in the Catamaran Explorer. Her retrieved it again in 2002 on the giant catamaran Orange  Catamaran in 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds.

The current holder of the trophy is Franck Cammas who did it in 48 days 7 hours 44 minutes 52 seconds who did it aboard the Groupama 3 Trimaran in 2010.

Ellen McArthur failed in her attempt in 2003 on the Kingfisher Trimaran due to a broken mast off the Kerguelen Islands.

Alain Thébault is scheduling a new challenge for the trophy in 2012 in a Catamaran.