Record to beat: 151 days, 19 hours and 54 minutes
The Global Challenge consists of beating the record for sailing around the world single-handed and without stopover from East to West.
It is a circumnavigation of the world "the wrong way round", i.e. against the prevailing winds for the majority of the voyage (the descent of the Atlantic, rounding Cape Horn, Australia, the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, and returning up the Atlantic).
In fact, the major classic races (Vendée Globe, Jules Verne Trophy, BOC Challenge, Whitbread, etc...) all go the "right way round", from West to East, (down the Atlantic, around the Cape of Good Hope, Australia, Cape Horn, and return up the Atlantic) in the direction of the prevailing winds.
After his last set back, caused by a dismasting in the Southern Ocean, Jean Luc Van Den Heede is setting off again to attack the record.
Record to beat: 151 days, 19 hours and 54 minutes
Holder: Philippe Monnet on board the monohull "U UNET"
Start and finish line: Line between the Lizard (GB), Ushant (F)*
At present the history of sailing includes only four single-handed circumnavigations of the world without stopover from East to West.
2 British skippers and 1 German undertook the venture:
1970 : Chay BLYTH, completed the circle in 292 days.
1994 : Mike GOLDING, took the record down to 161 days
2001 : Wilfried Erdmann, completed the circle in 343 days
A Frensh skipper hold the record:
2000 : Philippe MONNET established the new record of 151 days.
Jean-Luc Van den Heede's aim is thus to beat this record, recognised by the WSSRC (World Speed Sailing Record Council)
Planned departure date : 7th October 2001
VDH's aim : 10 days less than Philippe Monnet
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