Quentin Debois, a Belgian tackles a double solo Atlantic record under sail
by Laurence Hannon 31 Oct 2025 04:34 AEDT
Quentin Debois, a Belgian tackles a double solo Atlantic record under sail © Jean-Baptiste D'enquin
The Belgian skipper Quentin Debois will be attempting to break two world records for the solo Atlantic crossing under sail in the less than 7 metre category.
In December 2025, he will challenge the record from east to west (7,200 km) and, in June 2026, from west to east (5,300 km) aboard his 6.5-metre yacht. Two major challenges for this young 38-year-old skipper, who fell in love with sailing in 2018 and completed his first solo Transatlantic race in 2023. Quentin Debois' ambition is to become the first Belgian record holder for crossing the Atlantic under sail.
A young skipper on the rise
Quentin Debois grew up far from the sea, in Marchin in the Province of Liège, and nothing destined him for ocean racing. He discovered sailing late in life, at the age of 31, thanks to a friend who suggested he sail in the North Sea. He got hooked straight away and took his first lessons the following week on the Belgian coast. The sea gave him wings. The open sea was calling.
From 2021 to 2023, Quentin will undergo intensive training at the ocean racing training centre in La Turballe, Loire-Atlantique.
He is learning how to become totally autonomous on a from navigation techniques to repairs of all kinds, including first aid, meteorology, nutrition and sleep management.
In 2022, he bought his first boat, a Mini 6.50, the smallest racing boat in the world capable of crossing the Atlantic. His ambition was already there: to enter ocean racing. In November 2023, Quentin completed his first solo transatlantic race, with no assistance and no means of communication, in 28 days.
Quentin Debois: "This race, the Transat 6.50, is considered to be a real school for ocean racing. It is legendary. Several Vendée Globe skippers have been there. This first transatlantic experience confirmed that ocean racing was for me. I managed to deal with the ups and downs and the challenges of this crossing, but I also discovered that I really enjoyed being alone at sea for long periods. This challenge made me want to take on others: to be the first Belgian to beat the world record for crossing the Atlantic single-handed, on a Mini 6.50, from east to west and then from west to east."
December 2025: world record attempt across the Atlantic from east to west
Crossing the Atlantic in a Mini 6.50 from east to west, 7,200 km from Cadiz in Spain to the Bahamas, in order to beat the current World Record is an unprecedented challenge. Quentin will be sailing entirely alone: without the assistance of a race director, or the presence of other competitors. This is an extraordinary adventure, off the beaten track.
"Above all, it's a human adventure and a team challenge, without which nothing would be possible. I'll be sailing solo, but with the support of my shore team. Throughout the summer, we've been working on optimising the boat: its structure, sails, electronics and equipment. Every detail counts to make this compact yacht a concentrate of performance and reliability. When I'm at sea, my router will be giving me daily weather updates so that I can adapt my trajectories as best I can," Quentin points out.
"This whole adventure wouldn't be possible without the support of my sponsors - ODIGO, Accountable, KBC Brussels, Teasio, UK Sailmakers and K.Y.C.N. - who share my entrepreneurial spirit, the audacity to take on major challenges, resilience and determination," adds Quentin.
The single-handed east-west record in a Mini 6.50 monohull has been held since April 2024 by Spain's Aina Bauza, who completed the crossing in 30 days and 22 hours.
June 2026: world record attempt across the Atlantic from west to east Quentin's second challenge: the return crossing, this time from New York to England. The distance is around 5,300 km. This route, which is generally faster, but even more demanding, will test his adaptation to the weather conditions and his ability to optimise each mile covered to set a new reference time.
American Jay Thomson has held the record since August 2023, with a crossing time of 17 days and 9 hours.
Preparing a record is like running a business
Quentin Debois compares preparing for his record to running his own business: you have to manage a project, a budget, a team, find sponsors, do the marketing and communicate... there are many similarities.
An entrepreneur at heart, Quentin set up his first company during his studies at Solvay in 2010. The desire to be an entrepreneur was an obvious choice for him, and he has experienced all the joys and trials.
He has always shown adaptability and resilience in difficult times. He successively launched companies in 3 different fields: event marketing, recruitment and sales.
www.oceansailing.be