Club Med is bound to log some jaw-dropping mileage runs.

LA TRINITÉ-SUR-MER, FRANCE — The 110-foot catamaran Club Med spread her wings today, casting off for a delivery trip to Cadiz, Spain, the first stop on an itinerary laden with record-breaking potential. Under grey skies and light winds, the international crew of 11 headed by New Zealander Grant Dalton made its way out into the Mediterranean.
The crew selected for this delivery includes: Grant Dalton (NZ), Mike Quilter (NZ), Ed Danby (UK), Neal McDonald (UK), Nicolas Pichelin (France), Guillermo Altadill (Spain), Gerald Moosbrugger (Austria), and Paul Quinn (NZ), along with three other new faces that will be aboard. Jason Carrington (UK) brings a resume that includes two Whitbreads alongside Lawrie Smith. Thierry Barot (France), an America's Cup veteran who sailed on French Kiss, has also sailed on multihulls, notably with Paul Vatine during the Club Med Challenge in the Mediterranean, and on Banque Populaire during the 99 multihull season. Finally Hervé Jan (France) will also be on board, having crewed for Olivier de Kersauson on his record circumnavigation, as well as with Thomas Coville and Alain Gautier this year.
A north-northwest wind is expected to materialize along the Portuguese coast, though conditions should be relatively quiet for the journey to Cadiz. After June 6, Club Med will be on standby for an east-to-west Atlantic crossing record attempt to San Salvador, Bahamas with Dalton hoping to best the 12d, 25h, 26m record set by Jet Services V in 1988. The crossing must take place within 15d, 15h, 31m, a time equal to 125 percent more than the record, if Club Med is to qualify for the round the world sprint known as The Race. From there the cat will make its way to New York for an attempt at the east-west record. For more information see www.clubmed.com