Jet Services II was a French ultralight catamaran sailing yacht, most famously known for its record-breaking circumnavigation during the 1993–1994 Jules Verne Trophy attempt. It was the second prominent vessel associated with the "Jet Services" sponsorship, a brand that historically supported high-performance sailing projects.
History and Design Designed by the Gilles Ollier Design Team, a renowned firm specializing in high-performance multihulls, Jet Services II was constructed in the early 1990s. The vessel was a cutting-edge catamaran, optimized for speed, stability, and endurance required for demanding ocean racing and record attempts. Its design leveraged the inherent advantages of multihulls, such as greater speed potential and sail-carrying capacity compared to monohulls of similar size.
Jules Verne Trophy The yacht achieved its most significant historical recognition under the joint command of French-born British yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston and New Zealander Peter Blake. Together, they embarked on an attempt to win the Jules Verne Trophy, an award for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht, starting and finishing from a line between Ushant (France) and Lizard Point (England).
Blake and Knox-Johnston, aboard Jet Services II, began their record attempt in late 1993. They successfully completed the circumnavigation on 16 January 1994, setting a new world record time of 74 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes, and 22 seconds. This achievement not only secured them the coveted Jules Verne Trophy but also significantly improved upon the previous record. Their record stood for four years until it was surpassed by another multihull, Sport-Elec, in 1997.
Legacy Jet Services II holds an iconic place in the history of offshore yacht racing. Its success demonstrated the extreme capabilities of advanced catamaran designs in global sailing challenges and contributed significantly to the legendary careers of its skippers. Robin Knox-Johnston is celebrated as the first person to complete a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation, and Peter Blake was a celebrated New Zealand yachtsman and environmentalist. The vessel's achievement further solidified the reputation of the "Jet Services" sponsorship in the realm of high-profile, record-breaking sailing.