Four boats broke old 24 hour World Record
by Tim Jeffery UK Telegraph on 2 May 2002
The frantic pace of the Volvo Ocean Race's seventh leg has waned, but only after John Kostecki's Illbruck improved its world 24-hour record on Tuesday night from 473 miles to 484.
Joining in the smashing of the old monohull record -
467.70 miles recorded by Bernard Stamm's Armor Lux
during a transatlantic record attempt last year - were
Kevin Shoebridge's Tyco (474), Neal McDonald's Assa
Abloy (471) and Gunnar Krantz's SEB (468).
The record has met with carping comments because of the boost given by Gulf Stream, yet the breaking of records is all about making maximum use of prevailing conditions - and the World Sailing Speed Record
Council, who ratify such records, state clearly in their
rules that tidal factors and current are not to be
taken into consideration.
Kostecki was typically business-like in his reaction
even though he is almost certain now to end the
Volvo as outright winner and a world record holder.
'The atmosphere was extremely happy when we
heard we had broken the record. But we were soon
back to business and racing hard. Our goal is to win a
podium finish, so we are fully focused on the goal at
hand.' At 1600 GMT yesterday Illbruck held an
18-mile lead over Assa Abloy, which had reclaimed
second place from Tyco.
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