A global achievement for Francis Joyon

Francis Joyon has smashed round the world record by 14 days.

The IDEC trimaran crossed the finishing line off Brest on January 20, 2008 at 00h39:58. At the age of 51, Francis Joyon is once again the fastest solo yachtsman around the world having completed the voyage in 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds. He has shattered the previous record, held since 2005 by the British yachtswoman, Ellen MacArthur by 14 days, 44 minutes and 27 seconds. It is truly an incredible performance: while he thought it was possible to bring the time down to below 70 days (the time to beat was 71 days and 14 hours), the sailor from Locmariaquer in Southern Brittany has brought it down to below 60 days and even to below 58 days. On board IDEC, Francis Joyon has covered more than 26,400 nautical miles at the astonishing average speed of 19.09 knots. Francis Joyon also becomes the only solo sailor in the world to have grabbed the non-stop single-handed round the world voyage record aboard a multihull on two occasions after a first record back in 2004.

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Antarctic Survey breaks through the ice

Royal Navy ice patrol ship ‘HMS Endurance’, pictured breaking through ice north of James Ross Island as she carries out survey work in the Antarctic.

The survey was carried on behalf of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) on an 18-month deployment in the area, is currently transferring scientists to Mount Haddington where they will be carrying out ice drilling for the next two months. Endurance’s first task on arrival in the South Atlantic is focusing on the South Shetland Islands and the difficult to reach James Ross Island in Erebus and Terror Gulf (Weddell Sea). This involves the ship operating in dense areas of ice, in some of the most extreme weather conditions on Earth. Onboard Endurance are five scientific teams from the British Antarctic Survey who are working on independent projects, including the sampling of ice cores from the summit of the volcano Mt Haddington.  Each day the team is being flown out from the ship to different locations all over the Antarctic Peninsula and is returned from their mountainous data gathering by the ship’s two Lynx Helicopters. Endurance is fitted with modern hydrographic surveying equipment and experts at UKHO in Taunton will process the data gathered.

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‘Ice Prince’ update

The UK tug ‘Anglian Earl’ is remaining on scene as a guardship, at the site of the wreck.

With 46.8 metres of estimated clearance over the wreck, it is not seen to be a hazard to navigation but a full survey of the wreck site will be carried out by the Irish Lights vessel ‘Graunuaile’. The vessel arrived on scene this morning and will confirm the precise clearance. The Temporary Exclusion Zone of 1,000 metres is still in force. The owners are developing plans for the recovery of oil and cargo from the wreck, however the recovery may prove technically difficult. Currently no new timber has surfaced, but sheen of oil is coming from the wreck and is currently dispersing within three miles. Weather on scene is Southwesterly force 8 gales. The weather is not expected to improve until Sunday. The Secretary Of State’s Representative for Maritime Intervention and Salvage (SOSREP) continues liaison with the French ‘Prefet Maritime’ and the Environment Group continue to monitor the situation. The Greek Maritime Authority will be responsible for the accident investigation.

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