Main Page | Newsletter | Sailing calendar | America's Cup | Glossary

Edwards back for Jules Verne attempt

Edwards has bought Grant Dalton's catamaran Club Med

LONDON, England -- Yachtswoman Tracy Edwards is coming out of retirement to head an all female attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy in 2003.

It will be the second time Edwards, 39, has entered the contest where the world's top sailing teams attempt to break the non-stop round-the-world sailing record.

The Jules Verne is an open challenge involving a non-stop dash from the English Channel, round the Cape of Good Hope, through the seas around Antarctica, past Cape Horn and back to the English Channel.

Edwards is looking to begin the attempt in January 2003. She said: "I've come out of retirement to lead and run this Maiden. I'm 100% committed."

Her last Jules Verne attempt -- four years ago -- ended in disaster after 15,200 miles when a rogue wave smashed the mast of her vessel off the coast of South America.

Announcing her plan on Monday, Edwards said: "This is unfinished business, not just for me but for all of us."

QUICKVOTE Is Tracy Edwards right to make a comeback? Yes No View Results

The existing Jules Verne record holder, Olivier de Kersauson, left seven days ago on the 34 metre (110 feet) trimaran Geronimo and is already nearly four days ahead of his 1997 record setting pace.

Close in pursuit will be the 1993 record holder Bruno Peyron in the 34m catamaran Orange, which is due to leave before March 10.

Edwards has recruited the same crew that took part in her 1998 attempt in the 27m catamaran Royal & SunAlliance (RSA).

MORE STORIES Geronimo holding steady pace  Orange bids for round-the-world record

For the 2003 attempt Edwards remortgaged her home to buy Grant Dalton's 34m (110 foot) catamaran Club Med, winner of The Race.

She has renamed the yacht Maiden II -- a reference to her 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race in which her all female crew was a class winner with the vessel Maiden.

Two other syndicates were interested in buying Club Med for the Jules Verne, one being Ellen MacArthur's Kingfisher Challenge, but Edwards outbid them both.

This will now present a problem for MacArthur who was looking to set off at the same time next January with a mixed crew.

There are just five boats in existence considered suitable for a Jules Verne record -- the catamarans Orange, Club Med, Team Adventure, and PlayStation and the trimaran Geronimo.

Already the American's Cam Lewis with Team Adventure and Steve Fosset in PlayStation are planning to make record attempts in January 2003, leaving MacArthur the option of bidding for Orange or persuading one of the two Americans to join forces with her sponsor.