VDH started

Jean-Luc van den Heede sets off on his fourth attempt to break the non-stop solo round the world record westabout

Having dropped his two crew off at St Mathieu close to the mouth of the Rade de Brest, Jean-Luc van den Heede this morning headed up to the Ouessant-Lizard line ready to embark on his fourth attempt on the solo non-stop round the world record on the upwind course from east to west.

Van den Heede's yacht Adrien crossed the line at 12:22:25 French time (11:22:25GMT) this morning under blue skies, a reasonable sea and 15 knots of wind from the north.

To break the record the 75ft aluminium monohull will have to recross the line in the opposite direction on 7 April at 07:16:01 to break the existing record held by Philippe Monnet.

To read more about VDH's voyage - read our interview with him