Circumnavigation: "Wrong way round the world" - record for Guirec Soudée

At 9.34 am on 28 March, it was done: Guirec Soudée pulverised Jean-Luc Van Den Heede's 22-year-old record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the world from east to west with the Ultim "Macsf", crossing the finish line after 94 days, 21 hours, 58 minutes and 34 seconds.

This also made the 34-year-old Frenchman the first to stay under the 100-day mark for a single-handed circumnavigation against the prevailing winds - a historic first on a multihull.

Record man Guirec Soudée: Welcome party in Brest

The man is celebrated, whose performance still has to be confirmed by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), is expected to take place today from early afternoon at the Quai Malbert in Brest. Soudée's team has already set up a large stand next to the stage, where the books about his previous adventures will also be on display. Many clips from the "chicken man's" latest adventure can be found on his YouTube channel. There will also be live pictures of the record-breaking ceremony in Brest.

For Soudée, the record-breaking journey that has just ended was full of highs and moments of shock. One of the low blows was the broken rudder off Madagascar on day 68 of his challenge. Soudée was in 2019 with his Sailing adventures alongside on-board hen Monique has become famous. He travelled more than 37,670 nautical miles on his current record journey before crossing the finish line between the island of Ouessant and Cape Lizard on the southern tip of England.

The young family man is only the sixth skipper to complete a solo circumnavigation from east to west. And the first to do so on a multihull. He discovered sailing at the age of seven. His environment was ideal: he grew up on the small family-owned island of Yvinec near Plougrescant in Brittany. He flew the Breton flag with great pride after crossing the finish line. His current achievement heralds a new era for record-breaking trips "the wrong way round" the world.

The dethroned former champion comes as a well-wisher

To date, the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) and the Guinness Book of Records list Jean-Luc Van den Heede as the fastest solo circumnavigator against the wind. Soudée's compatriot set his record on 9 March 2004 with the 85-foot yacht "Adrien". His record journey took 122 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes and 49 seconds.

The 80-year-old former champion is expected to arrive at the dock. Jean-Luc Van Den Heede told the French news agency AFP: "I'm happy for him, I'm happy that my record was broken in my lifetime. After all, it's 22 years!" The fact that Van Den Heede's extraordinary achievement lasted so long is also due to the fact that the course around the world against the prevailing winds is an arduous one that only very few sailors take on.

Only around a dozen daredevils took the plunge, half of whom reached the finish line. Dee Caffari, now a seven-time British circumnavigator, was the first woman to take on the challenge. She crossed the finish line on the 72-foot yacht "Aviva" on 18 May 2016 after 178 days, 17 hours, 55 minutes and 42 seconds at sea.

Solo circumnavigation against the wind: Chay Blyth was the first

The British sailor Chay Blyth was the first solo sailor to successfully circumnavigate the world from east to west in 1971. He arrived on the 59-foot yacht "British Steel" after 292 days at sea. The Scottish pioneer was honoured with the Order of the Commander of the British Empire for this achievement.

Bill Hatfield achieved another first on 22 February 2020: From Australia, he became the oldest challenger to circumnavigate the globe from east to west. At the age of 81, he sailed around the world on the Northshore 38 "L'Eau Commotion" in 258 days, 22 hours, 24 minutes and 9 seconds. It was also the first east-west circumnavigation with a boat under 40 feet. The average speed of his journey was 3.48 knots.

The last clip before the finish. Soudée reflects on the record-breaking run: