While the Caribbean 1500 sailors trickle into Tortola (See previous post), these 60-foot monster multihulls are screaming into port in Bahia, Brazil after leaving France on November 3rd. Groupama 2 crossed the finish line of the Transat Jacques Vabre race yesterday with an elapsed time of 10 days, 38 minutes and 43 seconds for an average speed of 18.03 knots over the 4,340 mile course.

The Caribbean 1500 fleet is allowed to use their motors through any light wind on their trip to the Virgin Islands. For the racers in the Transat Jacques Vabre jaunt, however, their speedy trips were realized under sail alone, including time spent working through the fickle winds of the "doldrums." Speeds of 30-plus knots were achieved. And just to really put things over the edge, this is a "double-handed race," allowing only two sailors aboard.

Gitana 11 finished second, (nine hours and change behind leader), and Banque Populaire finished about seven hours later despite serious damage to the main hull. The giant multihulls clicked off 24-hour mileage averages of almost 600 miles on a fairly regular basis. Averages in the less adrenaline-fueled Caribbean 1500 were closer to 150 for fully crewed boats.

For full race news and results, check out the organizer's website.

Photos: by Marcel Mochet, AFP, courtesy of Jacques Vabre.