550-mile solo monohull record surpassed
Announced by the meteorologists, the race for the 24-hour single-handed monohull speed record has begun. Officially held since the 2016 Vendée Globe by Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss, with 536.81 miles covered on the great circle route, averaging 22.37 knots, it has already been unofficially beaten by Thomas Ruyant, at the helm of his IMOCA For People on this first edition of the Retour à la Base. The skipper has announced a day of more than 564.85 miles on the ground and 539.94 on the great circle route, averaging 22.5 knots on the great circle route and more than 23.5 knots respectively, at a perfect VMG downwind speed on smooth seas. The record has yet to be set the WSSRC homologation process to be official.
Ideal conditions
Since they turned right towards Europe, the sailors on Retour à la Base have been benefiting from ideal conditions for speed, well positioned under a low-pressure system leaving North America. Thomas Ruyant testifies: "The boat is still whistling a little, but it's much more bearable than during the Jacques Vabre. Well, 31 knots instantaneously! It's coming along nicely. We've got the perfect conditions for going fast downwind vmg! We're heading straight for the 24-hour record. I'm regulating a lot, with little naps when possible. It's going really fast. It's possible that I'll keep the same sail for quite a long time. The long starboard due north was long and dotted with squalls. [...] Yesterday was incredible. A real treat. But you have to be on top of it".
