François Gabart continues to swallow the miles at breakneck speed for his solo round the world record attempt. In fact he has a 603 mile lead over Thomas Coville, the reigning record holder. After a record on passing Cape Agulhas - an absolute record, as skipper Macif was faster solo than in crewed configuration, bringing the record down from Banque Populaire V which, led by 14 men in 2011, took 11 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes to enter the Indian Ocean.
The sailor of the white and blue trimaran has just set a new record at Cape Leeuwin, crossing the second of the three mythical capes at 0015 hours (UTC) this Friday 24th November 2017. He has thus set a new reference time between Ushant and Cape Leeuwin, situated to the South-West of Australia in 19 days 14 hours and 10 minutes, at an average speed of 26.50 knots. He improves Thomas Coville's time by 1 day 12 hours and 59 minutes. However, the record holder, had on Sodebo achieved an exceptional journey time of 21 days 3 hrs 9 min and 8 sec between Ushant and the second of the course capes .
© Jean-Marie Liot /DPPI / Macif
François Gabart's next objective is now Tasmania, at the south-eastern tip of Australia, which marks the exit from the Indian Ocean and the entry into the Pacific. A stage which he should spend on Saturday afternoon. On this section as well, the skipper of Sodebo Ultim' had set a new reference time with a crossing between Cape Agulhas - the southern tip of South Africa - and Tasmania in 8 days 12 hours 19 minutes at an average speed of 25.16 knots. So what's the next record for François Gabart?
