WORLD'S LARGEST RACING TRIMARAN launched

The largest racing multihull yacht ever built started testing on the waters in Lorient, France this week. Rather than taking it easy, and sailing her slow on the maiden voyage under sail, the crew of Banque Populaire V just couldn't help themselves from seeing what the new boat could do, and flying a hull in the ideal sailing conditions. Built to smash ocean sailing records, this yacht is made to test the limits. Just how large can a racing trimaran get? At 131 feet (40 meters), this giant boat is answering that question.

Skipper Pascal Bidégorry took the helm of Banque Populaire V on Tuesday, for the first sailing of the new trimaran. Bidégorry and his team could not imagine better conditions for the long awaited event. For five hours, under superb conditions, the 21 member crew tacked and jybed the massive multihull, just to get a feel for the yacht under sail. A gorgeous indian summer day, 14 knots of wind, the thrill of being the first to test a new racing yacht while gliding on the water under the clear blue sky - the smiles radiated from the crew at the sheer pleasure of it all.

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