Quentin Debois has broken the world record for crossing the Atlantic
by Laurence Hannon 31 Jan 13:13 UTC
31 January 2026
Quentin Debois breaks the Transatlantic record © OceanSailing.be
On Saturday 31 January at 6:30 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), Quentin Debois
broke the world record for crossing the Atlantic from east to west aboard his Mini
6.50.
He completed this extraordinary challenge in 24 days, 19 hours and 31 minutes
(subject to ratification of the record by the World Sailing Speed Record Council -
WSSRC), beating the previous record set by Aina Bauza in April 2024. She had
covered the 7,200 km between Cadiz and San Salvador in the Bahamas in 30 days and
22 hours.
Quentin Debois is the first Belgian skipper to break a world record for crossing the
Atlantic.
This performance is the result of rigorous technical and mental preparation,
concentration, resilience and unfailing morale on board, but also of a masterful
routing strategy, a committed team and daring partners present at every stage of this
incredible human adventure. Quentin gave his all to maintain a high average speed
and apply the routing advice with great rigour. He constantly sought speed, trying
every day to exceed the routing estimates. He sailed intelligently and efficiently, which
enabled him to cross the finish line six days ahead of the previous record aboard the
smallest racing boat capable of crossing the Atlantic.
Quentin Debois: "I'm really happy with the performance, morale was excellent throughout the
crossing. This second Transatlantic race confirms that this is the right thing for me. I gave it my
all, keeping a cool head and enjoying every moment. Above all, it's a team victory!"
"It's a tremendous joy to have broken this record in 24 days, 19 hours and 31 minutes. I'll
be floating on air for a few days!"
A wonderful team victory
Quentin Debois (38) has just achieved his dream: to become the first Belgian record holder
for sailing solo across the Atlantic from east to west in the under-7-metre boat category. This
is a magnificent achievement for the young skipper from Marchin (Province of Liège), who fell
in love with sailing in 2018 at the age of 31 and completed his first solo transatlantic race in
2023.
Quentin left Cadiz on Tuesday 6 January at 10:59:56 UTC and crossed the finish line in San
Salvador in the Bahamas on Saturday 31 January at 6:30 UTC (subject to ratification by the
WSSRC).
Quentin says, "Basile
Rochut, my router, did a
tremendous job. He helped me
take the right routes, and if this
record is broken today, it's
thanks to his advice and the
preparation of my technical
coach, Quentin Droneau.
Quentin adds, "This record is the result of a long-term collective effort based on shared values.
From preparing the boat to crossing the finish line, I benefited from the advice and support of my
entire team. My six colleagues - Quentin Droneau, technical coach; Basile Rochut, router;
Victor Dehaze, mental coach; Cédric Maguet, partnerships manager; Laurence Hannon,
public relations; and Martin Mounot, digital communications
— contributed to the success of this exhilarating challenge. I am deeply grateful to them, as well
as to my committed partners, without whom none of this would have been possible.
"I would like to thank ODIGO, Pharmacie Familia, Accountable, Teasio, THG Liège, IDEATEC,
Perfecty, UK Sailmakers, Nieuwpoort Marine, BSTOR, KBC Brussels Bank and Insurance,
Novadvice Belgium, Goéland-Tech and Nieuwpoort Marine-KYCN for believing in me and
supporting me every step of the way. This challenge would not have been possible without them.
We share strong values that give meaning to this adventure: entrepreneurial spirit, to build and
decide without guarantees; adaptability, to move forward in a constantly changing environment;
audacity, to dare to take on major challenges; and resilience, to face obstacles and surpass
oneself.
"Supporting a project like this means accepting a degree of uncertainty and risk. It means believing
in a vision, in a trajectory, and choosing to go for it despite everything.
I am deeply honoured by the trust my partners have placed in me and the support of all their
teams. Their commitment has been a huge source of motivation to push the boundaries and go
for this record. Thank you for being part of this adventure. At sea, as on land, we move forward
together.
Thibault De Haes, CEO of Pharmacie Familia (sponsor) said: 'Whether you break the record or not, it
doesn't matter. For us, the partnership is already a success. A wind of dynamism and team spirit is
already blowing through the company.'"
Benjamin Van Daele, CEO of ODIGO: "Quentin's first attempt at the world record was a real
source of energy for the ODIGO teams. We followed it with enthusiasm, talked about it a lot
among colleagues, and it created a very positive dynamic in our daily work. This project
brought us together and gave us meaning, embodying the values we hold dear: Respect,
Sharing, Commitment and Courage."
Victor Dehaze, mental coach: "Quentin had already won this
challenge when he crossed the starting line. Forming such a complete
team with such strong partners in such a short time is the biggest
challenge in this world record. That explains why he was smiling so
much and so eager to get going; just being able to start the race was
already a huge reward.
"What struck me was how closely Quentin aligns with his values. The
reason he managed to get so many people on board with his project
is because his alignment inspires confidence in everyone he meets."
Quentin Droneau, coach: "I worked with Quentin beforehand on
preparing the boat and on the water to refine his navigation skills.
We stayed in regular contact to manage his effort, the boat's
performance and technical repairs. For me, this crossing is
the culmination of true teamwork. Being present at the finish in
San Salvador is important to me: supporting a skipper is not just
about preparing him for the start, it's also about being there at the
finish, to bring the project to a close on a human and sporting
level.
"It's a key moment to take a step back and look at the performance,
measure how far we've come and already start thinking about what
comes next."
Skilled, intelligent and efficient sailing
Throughout the crossing, Quentin's navigation was very controlled. He managed to maintain a
high average speed and apply the routing advice with great rigour.
Quentin sailed 4,466 nautical miles during those 24 days, 19 hours and 31 minutes.
Basile Rochut, route planner: "Quentin was very precise and always on time, never
missing a deadline. I have only one thing to say to him: well done on breaking the
record! He can be proud of the way he broke it, because his sailing was clean, error-
free and clear-headed."
A steely mindset and unwavering optimism
Quentin Droneau, coach: "What made the difference was Quentin's consistent pace and
his ability to stay focused over the long term, while maintaining his legendary good humour.
Quentin managed to avoid too much damage (the bowsprit and two torn sails), which
means that the boat was well prepared and he sailed cleanly."
Basile Rochut, router: "Quentin really fascinated me with his mental strength. He worked
very well with his coach Victor Dehaze. Nothing discouraged him, even in the most difficult
situations. Quentin always wanted to push further, even after three weeks at sea, he still
had that motivation. Fatigue didn't get the better of him."
Victor Dehaze, mental coach: "Quentin has built up a mental strength of steel. For him, I
get the impression that the crossing was the easiest part.
Thibault De Haes, CEO of Pharmacie Familia: "From the moment we first met, it was
obvious. Quentin is reassuring and exudes great serenity. I immediately decided to
support him. He proves that you can start something late in life, that passion and hard
work lead to success. He inspires the Familia teams, who share his values. His humility
is very impressive. I never had any doubts about his success. This is only the beginning
of our collaboration."
Next meeting in June for the west-to-east record attempt
In June 2026, Quentin will attempt to break the world record for the west-east crossing of the
North Atlantic between New York and Lizard Point (5,300 km). This route, which is generally
faster but even more demanding, will test his ability to adapt to weather conditions and
optimise every mile travelled in order to set a new benchmark time.
American Jay Thomson has held the record since August 2023 with a crossing time of 17
days and 9 hours.
Quentin Debois, skipper: "I'm slowly starting to think about the second challenge
in the back of my mind. I'm listing a few technical improvements to be made (deck
reinforcements, modification of certain sails, optimisation of autopilot settings, etc.).
I'm also starting to think about how Basile and I are going to choose the weather
window. Because this second crossing won't be easy, it's the North Atlantic!"
Quentin Droneau, coach: "My advice to Quentin for the next
challenge: continue to sail cleanly, stick to the plan, manage your
energy well and stay focused over the long term. The return
journey will be demanding, but if he maintains this precision and
consistency, the record is entirely possible."
N.B. The world record and the precise time of the crossing still need to be ratified by
the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). The official Black Box (GPS) that
was on board Quentin's yacht will enable the record to be ratified.