Seeking to inspire future generations

Les Sables d’Olonne, France (August 6, 2023) – Austrian Norbert Sedlacek Koch, founder of Innovation Yachts, today set out to establish a benchmark time for circumnavigating the world non-stop, single-handedly and unaided, crossing all five oceans, including the Arctic and Antarctic oceans.

At the heart of this endeavor is his innovative and sustainable Open60AAL, a 60-foot yacht designed and built by Innovation Yachts, winner of the 2023 Ocean Tribute Awards. The yacht has been built to be environmentally friendly and self-sufficient in terms of energy supply, allowing Sedlacek to carry out the journey without fossil fuel sources.

After leaving France, the course heads north to round Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, and then descends the Atlantic to round Antarctica before returning north to Les Sables d’Olonne. Overall, the 32,000nm course will take six months. For tracking, click here.

By embracing sustainable practices and demonstrating the capabilities of the Open60AAL, Sedlacek hopes to inspire future generations of sailors and challenge them to consider sustainable solutions as they explore the world’s oceans.

As no record exists for this route, the World Sailing Speed Record Council will monitor the time to complete the course and will issue a performance certificate, thus establishing a ratified benchmark for future attempts on this course.