Last Saturday, French skipper Francois Gabart, started his attempt to break the non-stop singlehand record around the world which was set last year (49 days). He is sailing the 105 ft. trimaran “MACIF”, which is equipped with a Gori racing propeller. If the record has to be broken, he needs to have an average speed of at least 24 knots.

Francois Gabart (FRA) has untied the docking lines in France on Saturday (November 4) and passed the starting line (between Ushant, France, and the Lizard Point lighthouse in Cornwall, UK) on his quest to set a record for the fastest singlehanded round-the-world (RTW) circumnavigation, which is currently held by Thomas Coville (FRA). Coville’s current record of 49 days, three hours and 28 seconds will be an extremely hard one to beat, and Gabart was clear that his is not the world’s perfect weather window.

If all goes according to plan, the 34-year-old Gabart will cross the finishing line on December 23 to claim a new RTW record and reunite with his family for the holidays.

You can find the full story online on SailingScuttlebutt.com, or if you are interested in tracking “MACIF” you can follow the journey here.

Photo Vincent Curutchet / ALeA