Sébastien Simon decimates the 24 hours solo monohull record, more than 600!
Still propelled by a fast moving depression the six leading boats continue at record speeds.
This time it is Sébastien Simon's turn to set a new record* for the number of miles covered in 24 hours, in a monohull and solo: 615.33 miles (or 1,139.6 kilometers) between yesterday 0300hrs PM UTC yesterday and today at the same time, so pushing up the 24 hour average to 25.64 knots. The skipper of Groupe Dubreuil thus improves Yoann Richomme's record by a significant 35.47 miles (579.86 miles set between 24 and 25 November) during the same event, and takes the solo mark closer to the crewed monohull mark of 640 miles.
*Subject to official approval by the WSSRC
Contacted this morning, the Les Sables d’Olonne based Simon says:
"I beat the record! It is not the goal but the boat is doing really well, there's only one metre of sea, a reasonable wind between 24 and 26 knots of wind. I have two reefs in the mainsail, under FRO, in a relatively safe configuration for the boat. It's an incredible distance, I would never have imagined doing that. In my opinion it's not over because the scenario is improving for us. And since I'm staying in the front group, I'm on this depression all the way to Bonne Espérance instead of dropping off it this evening so I'm going to continue to go at this speed for almost another full day, so there's a chance that the record will be beaten again, I hope by me.
In saying that the night was hard and I collapsed from lack of sleep this morning but everything is fine.
Ciao!"
Teams info
IMOCA Race Report #3 I Day 18 on the Vendée Globe
The IMOCA fleet is now split into two distinct groups as they approach the Cape of Good Hope. At the front, the leading group is navigating under the influence of a particularly intense depression.
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