But still no mean feat
Round the world in less than 60 days was not enough to gain Thomas Coville a record. He crossed the finish line in Brest on his solo attempt aboard the 105 ft trimaran, Sodebo on Saturday having taken 59 days and 20 hours: two days over Francis Joyon’s record who, himself, took the crown from Ellen MacArthur.
Each of them, as well as Olivier de Kersauson, have paid tribute to the skipper of Sodeb’O and his performance.
Thomas Coville racked up the 4th best outright time around the globe, behind the crews of Bruno Peyron (2005) and Steve Fossett (2004) and the solo sailor Francis Joyon (2008). Though he was unable to outdo Francis Joyon’s performance in terms of speed, during his circumnavigation of the globe, Thomas Coville beat his own 24 hour distance record on 7th December 2008: 628.5 miles (1,164 km) devoured at 26.2 knots (48.5 km/hr)!
Last year Francis sailed 26,400 miles at an average speed of 19.11 knots. Thomas Coville’s course was longer (28,125 miles) but it was also faster (19.60 knots).
At the harbour entrance in Brest, the three metre waves of the Iroise left the way clear for a good swell. Under one reef mainsail and solent, downwind in a 15-20 knot SW’ly, the Maxi Trimaran returned to the point she set out from on 18th November 2008. Thomas crossed the finish line standing on the bow of the central hull, his hands in his pockets.