The solo sailor who beat Jules Verne’s time by six
Francis Joyonborn on April 6, 1956has two hallmarks in the open ocean: he set the solo nonstop round-the-world record in a multihull (72 days in 2004, then 57 days in 2008 — more than 14 days under Ellen MacArthur’s previous mark), and he won the 2017 Jules Verne Trophy with a crew of six, half the usual complement aboard a maxi-trimaran of that size.
2004 and 2008: two solo round-the-world records
In 2004, aboard the trimaran IDEC (27 m, ex-Sport Elec), Joyon completed a solo nonstop circumnavigation in 72 days 22 hours 54 minutes 22 seconds. Absolute record of the era. Four years later, he had IDEC II (29.70 m, Nigel Irens / Benoît Cabaret design) built specifically for solo sailing, and shaved his own record to 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes 6 seconds in 2008 — a time that stood as the absolute benchmark until François Gabart in 2017.
Jules Verne Trophy 2017: victory with six crew
On January 26, 2017, Joyon and five crewmates (Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane) completed the nonstop circumnavigation in 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds aboard IDEC Sport (ex-Groupama 3, 31.50 m). More than 4 days 14 hours under Loïck Peyron’s previous record on Banque Populaire V (45 days 13 hours, 2012) — set with a crew of fourteen. The contrast in crew numbers sums up Joyon’s approach.
Asian Record Tour and end of the IDEC partnership
In 2019–2020, Joyon chased records in Southeast Asia aboard IDEC Sport. On February 19, 2020, he beat the Clipper Tea Route (Hong Kong–London) crewed in 31 days 23 hours 36 minutes 46 seconds, ahead of Giovanni Soldini on Maserati. The partnership with the IDEC Group, twenty years of sporting collaboration, ended in April 2023. The trimaran was handed to Alexia Barrier for The Famous Project (Jules Verne Trophy with an all-female crew), renamed The Famous Project CIC.
Palmarès
- Solo round-the-world 2004: 72 days 22 hours 54 minutes 22 seconds aboard IDEC (ex-Sport Elec, 27 m). Absolute record of the era.
- Solo round-the-world 2008: 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes 6 seconds aboard IDEC II (Nigel Irens / Benoît Cabaret, 29.70 m). More than 14 days under Ellen MacArthur’s previous record.
- Jules Verne Trophy 2017: 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds aboard IDEC Sport, crew of six (Bernard Stamm, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane). More than 4 days 14 hours under Peyron’s 2012 record.
- Route du Rhum 2018: class Ultime victory aboard IDEC Sport in 7 days 14 hours 21 minutes 47 seconds, with a 7 minute 8 second margin over François Gabart (Macif). New course record.
- Route du Rhum 2014: 6th in class Ultime aboard IDEC Sport (winner Loïck Peyron on Banque Populaire VII).
- Route du Rhum 2010: 2nd in class Ultime aboard IDEC II (winner Franck Cammas on Groupama 3).
- Clipper Tea Route 2020: Hong Kong–London crewed in 31 days 23 hours 36 minutes 46 seconds aboard IDEC Sport, ahead of Giovanni Soldini (Maserati).
