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No
Doubting Thomas No
doubt Thomas Coville is on of the top figures in the rarefied air of top
flight solo sailors. Further proof follows and thanks to Kate Jennings for
the translation and to Don Emmerrt/ AFP for the great shot.3 days, 5 hours and 20 minutes, is the new solo record to beat between Miami and New York (subject to ratification by the WSSRC, the international body responsible for ocean records). After setting out from Florida last Sunday at 1806 GMT, the trimaran SODEBO crossed the finish line off the Ambrose Light, at the entrance to the New York channel, last night at 2326 GMT. This is the first single-handed attempt on this passage, which Thomas today put down to the course being “a really dangerous zone for a solo sailor”. After three days of intense sailing with the radar on dodging the heavy shipping traffic and storms of a rare violence, the skipper takes his second record in under two weeks. The road from Miami - New York is now open. This 1000 mile course has proven really testing for the skipper who has been forced to keep a permanent lookout for the past three days : “The radar did not stop howling. The endless traffic and the permanent dangers didn't allow any respite. Conditions have been hazardous with some monstrous storms. I didn't expect that.” Over the same course, Steve Fossett took 2 days and 5 hours in crewed configuration aboard his 38 metre catamaran. Aboard his 60 foot (18.28m) trimaran, Thomas has taken exactly 24 additional hours sailing single-handed. Despite the fatigue of linking these two records together so rapidly, the skipper is continuing to get just as much pleasure from sailing aboard these speed machines: “I spent what where possibly the finest 3 hours at the helm of SODEBO, making between 28 and 34 knots nonstop in total freestyle after 2 days without sleep. It was just intoxicating. Three fabulous hours.” The skipper will be on standby for this 3rd solo record from mid August. 7/25/05 |