Fourth record for Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultim'! This Tuesday 29th November 2016, he has just beaten the Indian Ocean record at 7 hours 51 minutes (French time). He set a new reference time between Cape Agulhas - the southern tip of South Africa - and Tasmania: 8 days 12 hours 19 minutes at an average speed of 25.16 knots (subject to approval and ratification by the WSSRC - World Sailing Speed Record Council).
With this crossing in just over 8 days, the skipper of Sodebo Ultim' improves on Francis Joyon's previous record in 2007 by 23 hours and 47 minutes.
Sailing in the 50's, between 50 and 60 degrees south, the skipper of Sodebo Ultim' crossed the Indian Ocean faster than Groupama 3 which in 2010, 8 days 17 h 40 min. Skippered by Franck Cammas, the boat was then led on the same course by a crew of 10 men, including a certain Thomas Coville.
Crossing the Pacific and Cape Horn in sight
Tasmania is an Australian island that marks the exit from the Indian Ocean and the entrance to the Pacific. From now on, Thomas Coville is continuing his course towards Cape Horn (South America), the third of the great capes which mark out his circumnavigation of the world.
Inhabited by the dream of becoming the fastest solo sailor around the planet, Thomas Coville never stops! He's on deck non-stop and is giving his all to complete the loop. You can see the fatigue on his face in his videos, which he sends out regularly. In fact Sodebo Ultim' is recording impressive average speeds of between 25 and 30 knots per 24 hours.
But it works because it chains the oceans together at lightning speed. In fact, it is 2 days 5 hours 4 minutes ahead of the time to beat, set in 2007 by Francis Joyon, who finished his course in a record time of 57 days 13 hours and 34 minutes!
