Sodeb'O new 24h distance record solo multihull

4:52 AM Tue 9 Dec 2008 GMT

'Sodeb’O' ? Fran?ois Van Malleghem / DPPI pour Sodeb'O ? Click Here to view large photo

628.5 miles in 24 hours! Such is the performance achieved on Sunday night at 2045 hours (UT) by Thomas Coville aboard Sodeb'O .

After initially beating his own record yesterday at 1815 UT after covering 620.80 miles - compared with 619 on 6th January 2008 - the skipper was able to continue lengthening his stride in a building wind. As a result he has improved on his new record, reaching 628.5 miles at 2145 hours at an average speed of 26.19 knots!

'These speeds are completely insane! To maintain an average of 26.19 knots, you have to regularly make over 30 knots of boat speed, which effectively means you have to be extremely quick the whole time! Sodeb'O is going fast. She loves these conditions as do I! I am very happy with this record for all the people who are accompanying me in this effort.

Ellen (MacArthur, patron to the Maxi Trimaran Sodeb'O, who completed this same round the world circuit in 2005) had warned me that despite the very best preparation for this round the world record, you would never be ready, either physically or mentally, for such a testing exercise,' admitted the skipper this morning during the telephone link-up.

This record is awaiting official approval from the body that governs round the world sailing records: the WSSRC.

www.sodebo-voile.com

by Kate Jennings - Expressions