Ellen MacArthur

World Record 2024

To set a new solo world record on the Discovery Route, linking Cadiz and San Salvador (Bahamas), without any assistance, aboard a 6.5-meter-long boat.

The route, covering a total of 3.884 nautical miles, connects Spain with the Bahamas, taking a more southerly route, leaving the island of Gran Canaria to starboard.

The target to beat is 21 days, 11 hours, 18 minutes, and 25 seconds, at an average speed of 7.54 knots.

The organization responsible for Sailing World Records is the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), a part of the International Sailing Federation (World Sailing). They will be responsible for validating that the record is achieved under the specified conditions in the regulations

How will the navigation be?

A navigation challenge alone and unassisted, with minimal comforts on board: dry sails turned into a bed, a bucket as a bathroom, freeze-dried food, and rigorous training to sleep only short 20-minute naps for weeks. A challenge both physical and mental.

The challenge

The boat

The 1063 is a 6.5-meter-long and 3-meter-wide boat. Launched in April 2022, it has sailed more than 6000 miles since then. It is a Vector, a model of Mini 6.5 designed by Etienne Bertrand and built in Poland at the Yacht Service Poland shipyards. It stands out with its rounded bow, allowing it to surf waves more effectively with downwind winds, such as the trade winds in the Atlantic Ocean.

It is a high-performance boat capable of reaching speeds exceeding 20 knots, thanks to its nearly 150 square meters of sail area. By combining the 6 sails available on the boat, its maximum performance can be achieved in all wind directions.