Coville off on Solo Round the World Record attempt

8:09 PM Tue 18 Nov 2008 GMT

'Thomas Coville (FRA) 'SODEBO' ater start of solo round the world record attempt.
Th.Martinez/Sea&Co.' ThMartinez &copy

Thomas Coville on board the maxi-trimaran Sodeb'O crossed the start line of the solo round the world race against the clock in a multihull today, Tuesday 18th November, just minutes before 1400 hours GMT, that is at 13 hours 54 minutes and 14 seconds GMT precisely.

There was 15 to 17 knots of N/NW'ly wind and the boat was making headway under one reef mainsail and staysail. To beat Francis Joyon's record, Coville will have to pass the Petit Minou lighthouse at the entrance to Brest harbour by 15 January 2009 at 03 hours, 27 minutes and 20 seconds GMT at the latest.

'It's a moment for which we've all been waiting for several weeks. The freedom in the choice of departure time is an important and decisive decision for the next stage. We decided to set out today because this morning the situation between the Canaries and the Cape Verde islands has become clearer, without being completely transparent!' explained the skipper of Sodeb'O late this morning. 'The routing we did at 09:00 hours this morning with the grib files fulfilled the 'theoretical' objective of making the equator in 7 days.'

Coville continued, explaining that, 'after observing the situation over the past few days, it looks really good now with a fairly easy sea state at the start in a 20-25 knot NW'ly, which will be followed by a N/NE'ly wind rotation, providing the multihull with a better angle on the wind'.

In other words a fine downwind descent pushed by the breeze is in view, 'conditions in which the boat shouldn't suffer too much and where I can make good speed without being overly physical.'

The skipper concluded his last radio session on shore with a few more personal thoughts: 'I admit that I love this moment when inertia turns to action; it's a moment we all prepare for. I certainly feel a twinge of sorrow at leaving land. I am a landlubber like you all but I'm heading into a hostile ocean'.

by Kate Jennings - Expression

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Coville off on Solo Round the World Record attempt

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