Having setting out on 7 November 2003 to beat the round the world against the winds and currents record held by Phillippe MONNET, who achieved it in 151 days on 9 June 2000, Jean Luc VAN Den HEEDE crossed the finishing line located off Créac’h lighthouse on the Island of Ushant in NW Brittany at 2.26 a.m. CET. after 122 days 14 hours, 3 minutes and 49 seconds at sea.

VDH has thus reduced the reference time by 29 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes and 47 seconds according to Claude Breton, the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council) official timekeeper, this time is subject to WSSRC ratification. As soon as he has taken on board his technical team on Ushant, VDH will head off towards his home port of Les Sables d’Olonne in Western France, he will reach home on Thursday 11 March at 5 p.m. CET.

A complete bulletin will be issued later this morning.