Macif Effort

Less than a year after a new solo round the world record was set, it has been smashed by Frenchman François Gabart. reports

- Toby Heppell

Frenchman François Gabart has set a new solo round the world record. Gabart sailed back into France almost exactly a year on from fellow French sailor, Thomas Coville who set the new solo round the world record when he Finished his lap on 25 December 2016.

When Coville sailed back into Ouessant a full eight days ahead of the previous solo record, which had stood since 2008, some questioned just how long this seemingly unbeatable record might stand. Now we have the answer; less than a year!

Having set an incredible pace from his start at the crack of dawn on 4 November 2017, for a time it looked as though Gabart might even manage to beat the outright round the world record of 40 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes set by Francis Joyon and his crew last year. Ultimately, however, Gabart’s return up the Atlantic could not keep up with Joyon’s pace. Nonetheless his new record time of 42 days, 16 hours and 40 minutes – shaving over six days o Coville’s record time of 2016 – is very impressive.