Thomas Coville wants to be the fastest man sailing around the world – single handed. He is up against IDEC’s and Francis Joyon’s fantastic record of 57 days, 34 minutes and 6 seconds.
Most races or solo attempts start from Europe. Due to the configuration of the continents, sailing around the world consists in sailing around the world means keeping Antarctica to your right while passing Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn, before finishing in the English Channel. Sailing around the world can be done in two directions: eastward or westward. The dominant winds and currents make the voyage eastwards on the Southern hemisphere a lot faster so most skippers chose this route.
The records are approved by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC)
To get a around the world record approved by WSSRC the sailed distance must be at least 21,600 nm measured along the shortest track from the starting point and back, not crossing any land, not sailing below 63° South and crossing Equator.
