On Friday, 3 June Ellen MacArthur and crew will leave Plymouth to establish a new crewed Plymouth to Roscoff record to claim the ‘Brittany Ferries 100 Mile Trophy’. The trimaran B&Q will line up on the start line next to Brittany Ferries flagship the Pont Aven off Plymouth to set off at 1330 BST – the same time that the Pont Aven sets sail for Roscoff on the north coast of France. The ‘Brittany Ferries 100 Mile Trophy’ will be awarded to any sailing vessel that breaks the record established by the B&Q trimaran on Friday, 3 June.

Joining MacArthur on board B&Q will be top French skipper, Roland Jourdain. Jourdain and MacArthur have been long-term friends and rivals – they both competed in the 2000/2001 Vendée Globe with Jourdain finishing one place behind MacArthur in third. Jourdain took on the Vendée Globe again in 2004 but sadly damaged his keel south of Australia whilst challenging for the lead and was forced to retire. Brittany Ferries stepped in at this point to assist Jourdain in transported his Open 60 Sill et Veolia back to France and in appreciation of this assistance, Jourdain has agreed to sail with MacArthur in this inauguaral ‘Brittany Ferries 100 Mile Trophy’ record attempt.

MacArthur commented: “It will be great to be out on the water with Bilou, I have raced against him many times in the past and I have a great respect for him. I hope he will enjoy sailing on board B&Q as much as I do, I know it will be a big change from the Open 60 design that he is used to but I’m sure he will enjoy taking on this challenge in the same way he does whenever he is out on the water.”

As the Pont Aven can reach a top speed of 27 knots, it is unlikely the trimaran will find the perfect weather to dock in Roscoff before the passengers disembark the ship but, hopefully, a new record will be established!