Spain to the Canaries in a day

Francis Joyon has the bit between his teeth on his Route of Discovery record

30 hours after departing from Cadiz, so Francis Joyon and his maxi trimaran IDEC is already in the process of rounding the compulsory mark of Gran Canaria this afternoon. To date Joyon has averaged over 520 miles per 24 hours at speeds in excess of 25 knots in his attempt on the Route of Discovery record.

At the time of writing, IDEC is negotiating the south side of Gran Canaria before she ventures out into the Atlantic. Already he is 100 miles ahead of the existing record held by Thomas Coville.

"Usually I've been sailing between 25 and 33 knots" reflected Joyon this morning just after he'd put in his first gybe to pass through the Canary Islands. "I made a good distance on my first day despite a trying first night when I had to keep a constant watch for squalls." Joyon admits having "not slept more than an hour or two" since he left. "I listen to the boat, I try to understand, I adapt ..."

On the route south to the Canaries, IDEC shaved the Moroccan coast as the wind backed to the north and went a little soft causing Joyon to revert to IDEC's full sail plan as he played the clouds - making 21-22 knots between them and 27-28 when he hooked into one.

This afternoon the worry has been the wind shadow of the islands which particularly in the case of mountainous Tenerife can extend up to 100 miles downwind.

"In the longer term, there may be a more difficult transition zone in the weather in three or four days, but for now I manage what I have and everything is fine on board. I will endeavour to sail quickly. "