Record-setting Frenchman to set off later this month

Francis Joyon is to attempt another record. Eight months after the Frenchman set a new record for sailing around the world singlehanded and non-stop in 57 days, he hopes to recover the Route of Discovery record between Cadiz and San Salvador, Bahamas in his maxi-trimaran IDEC, nicknamed the ‘Red Arrow’. The route follows a similar track to that of Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492.

The record is presently held by Joyon’s close rival Thomas Coville and stands at 10 days, 11 hours and 50 minutes. Joyon will prepare for departure later this month in Cadiz, southern Spain, after the delivery from La Trinite-sur-Mer. To break the record for this route Joyon and IDEC will have to average more than 15.5 knots to improve on Coville’s time.