After Francis Joyon - new single-handed North Atlantic Record holder in 5 days, 2 hours and 7 minutes on Idec Sport -, it is Thomas Coville who takes a close interest in this challenge. On stand-by in New York since Monday 10th July, he took off from the Big Apple this Tuesday 11th July at 8:19 am (French time). The boat is due to enter the summer refit before the new season, so Thomas Coville has taken advantage of this weather opportunity to set off on the North Atlantic crossing.
"It's a window where the first 36 hours are complicated, you have to get off the coast and go through an area where there are lots of whales and big fish. If there's a good sequence, it's almost a direct route. There will be quite a few sail changes, but I can manage to push more than I did on the round the world race. It's a good time to get back to our summer refit requirements. At the end of the course, it's a bit like Russian roulette with the rise of a high pressure system which is blocking the way" thomas Coville explained yesterday before leaving New York Bay.
7 months after setting the 49-day solo round the world record, shattering the absolute record by 8 days, Thomas Coville now wants to be the fastest man to cross the North Atlantic. To beat Francis Joyon, he will have to cross the finish line (Cape Lizard, southern tip of England) on Sunday 16th July 2017 before 10:26 am French time.
