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'Francis Joyon'    Franck Gicquiaud ©

At 23:35 GMT 51 year old sailor Francis Joyon sailed across the start finish line near Brest in France aboard his his 30 metre trimaran IDEC to set a new solo round the world of 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds.

That takes 14 days, 44 minutes and 27 seconds from the preceding record, held since 2005 by the Britain’s Dame Ellen MacArthur.

Joyon sailed nearly 26,400 nautical miles (nearly 49,000 kilometres) at an amazing average on the water of 19,09 knots, 4 knots faster than MacArthur.

He sailed the 30 metre trimaran without conventional diesel/ electric charging, instead used a windmill and solar panels.

Its was tough last week for Joyon, with a mast stay threatening to fail, which would have caused the dismasting of IDEC, but the gritty Frenchman held his nerve, climbing the mast four times to make repairs.

Trimaran IDEC. Photo: JEAN MARIE LIOT / DPPI POUR IDEC -  © IDEC_.   Click Here to view large photo

Francis Joyon © Vincent Curutchet / DPPI / IDEC -  © IDEC_.   Click Here to view large photo

Joyon Round the World -  Franck Gicquiaud

by Sail-World

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