38 year-old Thomas Coville has succeeded in his attempt at the single-handed Round Britain and Ireland record. He shaved 26 hours off the previous holder Jean-Luc Van den Heede's time. After leaving the Isle of Wight six days, six hours, 40 minutes and 31 seconds earlier, the father of two crossed the finish line at 20:31 BST on Monday 14th August 2006. He sailed his 60ft trimaran 'Sodebo' alone for the 1,787 mile journey, which took him clockwise round England, Ireland and Scotland.
Previously the Frenchman has taken part in Mini Transat, America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race to name but a few. Coville has been skippering for the 'Sodebo' campaign for the last seven years and has won a number of titles in this time, including the Transat Jacques Vabre in 1999.
Coville commented in a BBC interview that he felt “a sense of deliverance." He said: "This record felt like climbing to the top of a mountain."
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