Record attempt: Will Nordbert Sedlacek achieve his lifelong dream this time? It all kicks off today.
Fridtjof Gunkel
· 26.07.2026
Norbert Sedlacek will make his sixth attempt at a world record on 26 July 2026 at 3.30 pm in Port Olona, Les Sables d'Olonne. The planned route of the ANT ARCTIC LAB Challenge covers around 32,000 nautical miles and will take the Austrian skipper non-stop and without support across all five oceans. The Innovation Yachts Open60AAL is set to head north west of the British Isles until it reaches 80 degrees north near Svalbard, then sail south across the entire Atlantic to Antarctica, round Cape Horn and finally sail back to the port of departure and arrival. The estimated duration is half a year at sea. The project also serves as a practical test for sustainable, fully recyclable yacht-building concepts.
Death or Lieutenant: “This time I’m seeing it through!”
Five failed attempts since 2018
The first attempt to set sail took place on 29 July 2018. South of Ireland, Sedlacek was forced to turn back because several pieces of equipment were not in working order. The second attempt followed in 2019, which also ended south of Ireland. In an approaching storm, the skipper made handling errors with the J1 headsail, pieces of equipment broke and the sail was lost. The third attempt was planned for 2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the Covid pandemic and an operation Sedlacek had to undergo. During the third actual attempt in 2021, problems arose with key elements of the renewable energy supply south-east of Iceland, forcing the crew to turn back once again. By this point, the route had already been adjusted to the Arctic waters around Svalbard, as passage through the Northwest Passage remained prohibited.
Critics questioned the sincerity of the record attempts. After all, in the Vendée Globe or other long-distance ocean races, skippers try to carry out even far more hopeless repairs in such a way that they can stay in the race or set off again, even though this may seem pointless. And Sedlacek would have had considerably more time to set off again and would not have had to wait a whole year for another attempt.
The project at YACHT-TV
Technical faults forced Sedlacek to make further stops
The fourth attempt in 2022 ended shortly after crossing the English Channel, not far from the south coast of Ireland. After a stormy night, Sedlacek discovered problems with the axle bushings on the starboard rudder. Once again, reason prevailed over ambition, and the record attempt was abandoned. On 6 August 2023, the fifth edition of the ANT ARCTIC LAB project got underway. This attempt also had to be abandoned, this time due to problems with the tilting keel and its electronics. After each abandonment, Sedlacek and his team at Innovation Yachts have redesigned and reinforced the affected components.
Open60AAL as a laboratory for sustainable yacht building
The Innovation Yachts Open60AAL was laid down in Les Sables d'Olonne in 2016 and launched on 16 May 2018. The boat received recognition for its technical features and branding right from its debut. The concept behind the project goes beyond a mere record attempt. The yacht serves as a floating laboratory for pioneering, sustainable and fully recyclable construction materials and methods. However, apart from the record attempts around the Arctic and Antarctic, the boat has not been put to any serious use.
Innovation Yachts works with partners who prioritise reduced CO₂ emissions, recycled materials and sustainability. Partners include, amongst others, 3A Composites for core materials, BTO Epoxy for resin systems, Oceanvolt for electric propulsion solutions, and Dimension Polyant and Incidence for sails. Material testing under extreme conditions in the Arctic and Antarctic is intended to provide insights for future yacht-building projects.
Route through extreme climate zones
The planned route begins in Les Sables d'Olonne and heads north, west of the British Isles. At Spitsbergen, the route will follow a course up to 80 degrees north latitude before heading south across the entire Atlantic Ocean. In the southern hemisphere, the voyage will involve circumnavigating Antarctica in the Southern Ocean, including the passage around Cape Horn. The route then heads northwards back to the start and finish point. The mental and physical strain on Sedlacek will be enormous. The choice of Les Sables d’Olonne as the port of departure is based on Sedlacek’s fond memories of his participation in the Vendée Globe.
Partner network for equipment and logistics
The ANT ARCTIC LAB project is supported by a broad network of partners. Alongside Innovation Yachts itself, companies such as Kapsch (communications technology), Katadyn (water treatment), Lorima (carbon masts), Robline (ropes) and Sioen Ursuit Muillon (protective clothing) are involved. Other partners supply food, navigation systems and weather forecasts. Les Sables d’Olonne Agglomération and Course au Large are providing on-site support for the project. Vincent Lebailly is responsible for the ship’s design, whilst Lebailly Fils is handling the insulation work. The Austrian company Saaf Rent and the British firm Expedition Zero are also part of the team. The collaboration aims to offer the highest quality and cleanest materials for bespoke yachts.
If you’d like to follow the start and the rest of the event: Click here for the tracker
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Fridtjof Gunkel
Deputy Chief Editor YACHT