PARIS: French sailor Thomas Coville on Tuesday set new solo record for sailing around the world single-handed without stopping in just 49 days and three hours.
According to French officials, the 48-year-old Coville finished his epic trip in 49 days, 3 hours, 7 minutes and 38 seconds, over eight days faster than the previous titleholder.
This was Coville’s fifth attempt as twice his boat was damaged and twice he broke a record set by Briton Ellen MacArthur but was unable to edge out his fellow Frenchman Francis Joyon’s record of 57-days set by him in 2008.
Celebration was broke at Brittany port of Brest on his arrival. He said his first priority will be to take rest.
About his voyage around the world
Coville boat was a 31-metre-long, 21-metre-wide Sodebo Ultim trimaran, a three-hulled boat refitted by Coville and a team of designers.
Coville sailed at an average speed of 45km an hour, to cover more than 52,000 km.
Coville travelled so fast that not only was it the quickest solo trip around the world, but the third-fastest journey round the world in any sailing boat.
The only two crafts to have made the journey faster had crews of 10 and 14 people, able to work in shifts.