American snatches round-world sailing record

An adventurer today smashed the round-the-world sailing record by six days.

American Steve Fossett, 59, and his twelve-strong crew crossed the finish line at Le Stiff lighthouse on the French island of Ouessant at 4pm.

Their 59-day journey took them 28,000 miles around the world via the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn.

The previous round-the-world sailing record of 64 days, 8 hours and 37 minutes was set by Frenchman Bruno Peyron in 2002.