Making the Turn at Cape Horn

(December 7, 2016; Day 30, 22:23 UTC) – Thomas Coville (FRA) and his 31m maxi trimaran Sodebo Ultim’ is negotiating the decreasing winds as he makes the turn at Cape Horn in his attempt to break the solo round the world record. His latest 24 hour run of 434.3 nm increases his margin to 1865.88 nm (+31 nm) ahead of the current record of 57d 13h 34m 6s set by Francis Joyon (FRA) on the 29.8m trimaran IDEC in January 2008.

After two weeks of pure speed to cross the Indian and the Pacific, it is today to maximize the speed at this evil corner of the planet. When one approaches the coasts, the winds descend from the heights, they are capricious, sometimes violent or erratic and often unstable.

Today the situation is complex with an area of ice that prevents Coville from going east to play and a windless area which is very close and which follows its course accompanying it towards the east and the north. But if all goes well, Coville will have wiped more than three days off the previous Pacific ocean record crossing of 10d 14h 26m owned by Joyon on IDEC.

But before the Horn, there is the island of Diego Ramirez which represents a danger of navigation. Swirls, surf, shallows, windless areas and pebbles, the lone skipper will sail for the first time since his departure near the coast. Thomas Coville will have to adapt between what the files say and announce and the reality of the situation on the area of the famous heading.

From tomorrow, it will gradually move away from the hostile and desert regions of the great south swept by depressions and icy winds. Coville will start the last part of the world’s sailing trip, the upturn of the Atlantic in the direction of Ouessant, his starting point.

Team Sodebo – Facebook – Tracker

Background: Thomas Coville (FRA) and the 31m maxi trimaran SODEBO ULTIM started the attempt to break the solo round the world record from in Brest (France) on November 6. The current record of 57d 13h 34m 6s, which starts and finishes between the island of Ushant and Lizard Point in southern England, was set by Francis Joyon (FRA) on the 29.8m trimaran IDEC in January 2008. To break the record, Coville must finish by January 3 at 04 hours 22 min.

Source: Team Sodebo