546 miles in 24 hours for Sodeb'O

As forecast, Thomas Coville has benefited from relatively flat seas for the first 24 hours and a very steady 20 knot SW’ly. These conditions have enabled him to sail under full mainsail and small gennaker for the majority of the time. During the night, he reduced the sail area a little and hoisted the solent due to a large amount of shipping and a pea-souper fog which prevented the skipper from seeing either the top of the mast or the bow of the boat. Since he has got into deeper waters, the famous fog generated by the Nantucket banks has naturally lifted. Not only can the skipper see the horizon but he can also be seen and pinpointed, which will enable him to get a little rest. This will be very welcome as Thomas has only slept for short periods over the past 24 hours, with just two 20 minute catnaps. Over the next few hours, these stable conditions will last and the maxi trimaran may be able to round Cape Race by the end of Friday - the cape is the most E'ly point of the North American continent and the last taste of land prior to the Atlantic crossing. Once there it will be a big run across the North Atlantic.

To beat the record time achieved by Francis Joyon in 2005, Sodeb’O will have to cross Lizard Point (SW tip of England) prior to Tuesday 15th July, 1545 UT, but we should take the maxi trimaran’s lead into consideration after just 24 hours. Indeed Francis set off relatively slowly but we know the end of the course to have been a perfect ride of 6 days 4 hours, one minute and 37 seconds, crowned by a solo 24 hour record of the time, that of 540 miles on the second day. Since then, the 24 hour record has developed. It has been beaten several times, notably by the self same Francis. The current record now stands at 619.3 miles and it is Thomas who has held this since January 2008.

It should be noted that the WSSRC has validated Sodeb’O’s start time: 9th July at 1147 hours UT.