Ronnie Simpson breaks down an amazing feat taking place in the Atlantic as we speak…
They say round-the-world record attempts are often won and lost in the Atlantic, and thus far, Francois Gabart and his 100-foot trimaran MACIF are off to a cracking start and making steady 700+ mile per day progress down the Atlantic. #winning. The objective is Thomas Coville’s less-than-one-year-old solo round-the-world record of 49 days 3 hours 4 minutes onboard Sodebo Ultim. It took Coville no fewer than four attempts, legendary skill, a new whip and a miracle weather window across the Indian (and much of the Southern) Ocean to knock an incredible week-plus off of Francis Joyon’s old record.
To say that his record is going to be tough to break would be an understatement, but if there’s one person on earth who can do it at the moment, it’s Francois Gabart. Everything the kid has touched in his career has turned to gold. With wins in the Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, setting the 24 hour solo distance, and more, ‘Golden Boy’ Gabart has proven himself to be nearly unbeatable since entering the solo arena; a protege of Desjoyeaux himself. Read more.
