Video: French skipper Coville sets new distance record

Thomas Coville has become the fastest solo skipper in the world, travelling 713.8 nautical miles in 24 hours. Watch the video below.

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Pending confirmation from the World Sailing Speed Record Council, Thomas Coville has now entered the record books for sailing 713.8 nautical miles solo in just 24 hours.

He achieved an average speed of 29.75 knots on board Sodebo Ultim.

Coville made the record on 8 June while sailing from New York to Sodebo Ultim’s home port of La Trinité-sur-Mer in France.

The skipper was returning from his Transat bakerly success. He took second place in the race on 11 May behind fellow Frenchman François Gabart on Macif.

Coville beats the previous record holder Armel Le Cléac’h, who travelled 682 nautical miles in 24 hours on Banque Populaire VII on 26 January 2014.

This is the third time that the 48-year-old skipper of the Ultime trimaran, Sodebo has secured the record.

His previous two records were set in 2008 on board the maxi-trimaran Sodeb’O while attempting to beat the solo around the world record.

He achieved 619.3 nautical miles on 5-6 January, and then broke that record on 31 January when he sailed 628 nautical miles solo in 24 hours.

The co-president of Sodebo, Patricia Brochard, said everyone at the French food company was proud of Coville’s achievement.

“Almost 30 knots average for 24 hours solo is hard to imagine; (it) is like (a full circuit) of Le Mans for 24 hours and no (break)” she said.

“It’s a challenge both (mentally) and  (physically). Thomas did not let go and it paid off. What a great reward for him and for the whole company!” said Brochard.