Thomas Colville is off
Frenchman Thomas Coville and his 105-foot maxi-trimaran Sodeb’O crossed the start line of the solo round the world race against the clock yesterday at 13:54:14.
He is seeking to beat Francis Joyon’s record of 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds. It was on December 17, 2007 when Coville last attempted to break Joyon’s record, setting the current 24 hour solo distance record of 619.3 miles on the 20th day of his campaign. But Coville retired after discovering his starboard float was damaged.
Coville tested his repaired maxi trimaran this in July, when he set a new
North Atlantic crossing record. For this global record attempt, Coville will
have to pass the Petit Minou lighthouse at the entrance to Brest harbour by
January 15, 2009 at 03 hours, 27 minutes and 20 seconds GMT to set a new record.