Sodebo away!

More records as Thomas Coville sets off to break Francis Joyon's Route of Discovery record

After two weeks waiting in Cadiz for the most favourable weather window, Thomas Coville set sail alone on board his red trimaran Sodebo at 10:32GMT to make an attempt on the Route of Discovery record from Cadiz in the south of Spain to San Salvador in the Bahamas, 3,884 miles away. This route was originally followed by Christophe Columbus although the record course now requires boats to leave the Canaries to starboard.

Working with router Christian Dumard and Richard Silvani of meteorologists Météo France, a departure had been considered for Saturday but the wind angle proved not to be optimum.

At present the solo record for the Route of Discovery is held by Francis Joyon on his 90ft trimaran IDEC with a time of 11 days 3 hours 17 minutes and 20 seconds. In comparison Coville is sailing a more powerful boat but two thirds IDEC's size.

After two false starts this morning, Coville benefitted from a gust to cross the line, some 30 miles from Cadiz at more than 20 knots. To beat Joyon's time Sodebo must reach San Salvador before Thursday 9 June.