Thomas Coville on Sodebo departs on his round the world solo record attempt

He's got 6 & 1/2 days advantage over Joyon, but will lose a bit of it during the next 2 days.

No electronics ? Back to sextant, paper carts, wind-vane, barometer as only way to forecast ?
Wait 2 months to know what has happened unless he shows up somewhere before for whatever reason ?
Nope.

 

Looking at the current weather patterns it looks like Thomas should start to gradually pickup speed as more favorable angles become available. He is currently at 18 knots and the forecast is looking quite positive for now. Francis Joyon also didn't have a very good run through the South Atlantic so it looks like the lead by Thomas Coville over FJ's relative position may extend.

 

Along with setting a whole bunch of new records along the route the latest achievement by Thomas Coville on Sodebo is to claim the solo record for the equator and the return trip in a period of 35 days 21 hours and 38 minutes, an amazing effort.

 

Looking really good to smash Joyon's record, will be close to Orange II fully crewed !

 

After diverging somewhat from Joyon's more direct route to find more suitable conditions Thomas Coville has made what looks to be the last major course correction on his approach to Brest. He is now on the 45th day of his record attempt with 1867nm remaining and is about 2600nm ahead of the reference position of record holder Francis Joyon.

 

OK I jumped the gun a bit there, Thomas has headed further north to get into more pressure. It's all looking pretty encouraging now for a fast run home though.

 

912nm to go for Thomas Coville on Sodebo and well positioned on the weather system for the ride home, his 24hour average is 25.3 knots.

47 days, 15 hours and 49 minutes elapsed now. Barring some kind of disaster it looks like the new solo record will be under 50 days.

 

What an incredible pace.

 

Thomas only has 187nm to go, bring it home good man.

 

Coville aboard Sodebo

French pilot talking to Thomas. I don't speak French but you don't really have to with this video-the emotion in his voice is self-explanatory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reCH3WMpTAY&feature=youtu.be

 

Thanks Doug, final time was 49 days, 3 hours, 7 minutes and 38 seconds taking more than 8 days off the previous record. A pretty amazing achievement, great sailor, great team and a great boat.

 

Thomas Covlle

Absolutely fantastic accomplishment!!!

 

Some interesting general comments by VPLP on the Geronimo revamp to Sodebo Ultime and a comparison of performance with Geronimo over the Jules Verne course.

http://www.vplp.fr/news/93/60/From-Geronimo-to-Sodebo-Ultim-fifteen-innovative-years.html

 

Well done!
A great achievement, but I am under the impression that this Jules Verne Trophy is mainly a lottery with the weather windows - these giant multis and the few sailors attempting this record run are almost interchangeable given the overwhelming impact of the right pressure systems on the right places for the possible finishing time.

 

Record

For The Record
From Scuttlebutt Europe:
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:
Record: Around the World. Singlehanded
Yacht: Sodebo4. 120 ft Trimaran
Name: Thomas Coville. FRA
Dates:.6th November 2016 to the 25th December 2016
Start time: 13;53;02 on 6/11/16
Finish time: 16; 57; 30 on 25/12/16
Elapsed time: 49 days 3 hours 4 minutes and 28 seconds
Distance: 21600 NM
Average speed: 18.36 kts
Comments: Previous record: "IDEC". Francis Joyon. FRA. Jan 08. 57d 13h 34m 6s
John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
sailspeedrecords.com