Oman Sail shatters world record

In an unprecedented outcome to the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland race that started on Monday following weather delays, the Oman Sail entry was first to complete the 1,880 nautical mile course at lunchtime yesterday.

As the only trimaran taking part in the 20-strong fleet, line honours was always expected for co-skippers Sidney Gavignet and Ireland’s Damian Foxall.

However, breaking the three-year old record for the course set by a boat almost twice their size was always a long shot.

Set in 2011 by Loick Peyron on Banque Populaire 5 in a time of three days, three hours, 49 minutes and 14 seconds it was also conducted in the optimal weather window rather than a fleet start.

“It was only when we were passing the Shetland Islands on Tuesday I hooked up the satcomm, went online and checked the record,” Foxall said. “I went on deck and said to Sidney, ‘we might actually break the record.’”

Musandam Oman Air was averaging 30 knots for the first 24 hours but regularly hit higher speeds in the rough sea state.

“We hit a new top speed for the boat of 43 knots right at the start,” said Foxall. “You really need the right conditions, perfect trim and the time to set that up to get to that speed and we hardly ever dropped below 25 knots the whole way round.”

As the strong winds eased on Wednesday, the record appeared to slip from reach. However, fresher conditions on the final approach to the finishing-line at Cowes brought the team home just 16 minutes ahead of the 2011 record. The result has still to be formally ratified by the World Speed Sailing Record Council.

Foxall previously set a record with the late adventurer Steve Fossett for the fastest non-stop circumnavigation of the planet and later won the Barcelona Two-handed Race around the world with Frenchman Jean-Pierre Dick.

After six attempts, the Derrynane sailor realised a childhood ambition when he won the Volvo Ocean Race in home waters when the 39,000 mile contest finished in Galway in 2011.

Meanwhile, the Round Britain & Ireland Race continues its fifth day at sea with a further 10 days expected before the overall winner on IRC handicap is decided.