Jean-Pierre Dick’s JP54 monohull ‘The Kid – ‘Notre Méditerranée – Ville de Nice’ smashed the 40-year Bermuda to Lorient record as part of this year’s Pure Ocean Challenge.

In fact, race winner Dick, and second-placed TS42 multihull ‘Banzai’, skippered by Vincent Willemart, both bettered the longstanding record of 12 days, 23 hours and 16 minutes – set by Eugène Riguidel and Jean-François le Menec, in the catamaran William-Saurin in 1983 – by more than 34 hours.

Despite trailing for much of the race, which set off from St George’s in Bermuda on May 8, it was the JP54 that crossed the line first in a time of 11 days, 8 hours and 38 minutes with the TS42 coming in just over five hours later in 11 days 13 hours and 53 minutes.

Professional sailor Jacques Valente, racing in the 42-foot epoxy wood multihull Be Creative is due to be the third vessel to finish.

“The conditions were very good for the first four days and we were close behind Banzai, but towards the end we made a strategic decision to push towards a big high in the Irish Sea and that made the difference,” said Dick, a Pure Ocean ambassador and four-times Transat Jacques Vabre winner.

“I’m very proud to have broken a long established record and hope that other boats will try and beat my time next year.”

The event, which is organised by the Pure Ocean Foundation, Absolute Dreamer and Advanced Tracking, also aims to raise awareness of the urgent need for ocean conservation.

Pure Ocean raises funds to support state-of-the-art applied research projects to conserve marine biodiversity, protect and restore fragile marine ecosystems and increase knowledge of the ocean.

“It is important to also use this race to raise awareness of the vital work being carried out by Pure Ocean and to raise money for the scientific ocean research projects they fund,” added Dick.

Pure Ocean founder David Sussmann, founder of Pure Ocean, hailed the record-breaking exploits of the competitors.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the 2023 edition of the Pure Ocean Challenge,” he said. “Jean-Pierre, Vincent and Jacques and their teams really made the challenge exciting and gave it their all!

“We are honoured that the two new records were made in Pure Ocean’s name and are convinced that next year we will be able to attract even more teams to help us spread the message about ocean protection.”