Around the world sailing record
The first around the world sailing record for circumnavigation of the world was Juan Sebastián Elcano and the remaining members of Ferdinand Magellan's crew who completed their journey in 1522. The first solo record was set by Joshua Slocum in the Spray.
The current record holders are IDEC 3, skippered by Francis Joyon in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds for a crewed journey, and François Gabart with Macif in 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds for a solo journey.
Most races or solo attempts start from Europe. Due to the configuration of the continents, sailing around the world consists of sailing on the Southern Ocean around the Antarctica continent, passing south of Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin. Since 1918 the Panama Canal is an option but the locks must be entered and exited using engine power. Large stretches of the canal can be crossed under sail power.
Sailing around the world can be done by two directions: eastward or westward. The dominant winds and currents make the voyage eastwards on the Southern hemisphere faster, most skippers and yachts who race prefer this route. Today, the multihulls perform much better than monohulls and hold the best times. Leisure yacht skippers who prefer tropical seas more often go westward, using the trade winds.
The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded to the skipper who breaks the outright record, starting from an imaginary line between the Créac'h lighthouse on Ouessant Island, France, and the Lizard Lighthouse, UK.
The records are homologated by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.
According to the WSSRC, for around the world sailing records, there is a rule saying that the length must be at least 21,600 nmi calculated along the shortest possible track from the starting port and back that does not cross land and does not go below 63°S. The great-circle distance formulas are to be used, assuming that the great circle length is 21,600 nmi. It is allowed to have one single waypoint to lengthen the calculated track. The equator must be crossed. In reality, this means that the boat should pass a waypoint at or not far from the antipode of the starting port of the journey. For example, the Vendée Globe starts at 46°N 2°W, has a waypoint at 57°S 180°E, and barely makes the distance requirement. The participants don't have to go to the antipode at 46°S 178°E since the rounding of Africa gives extra distance.
Notable races
The most famous races around the world are:- The Vendée Globe a non-stop solo race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class.
- The Ocean Race, a stopping fully crewed race, currently using the Volvo Ocean 65 and IMOCA 60 class. Previously known as the Whitbread Round The World Race and the Volvo Ocean Race.
- The Velux 5 Oceans Race a stopping solo race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class previously known as the BOC Challenge, later as Around Alone.
- The Barcelona World Race a non-stop two handed race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class.
- The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race a stopping crewed race for amateur crews using the Clipper 70 Class.
- The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, held in 1968-1969, the first round-the-world yacht race.
- The BT Global Challenge, was a race held every four years and followed the westward route.
- The Race, was a race held in 2000, involving multihulls.
- The Oryx Quest, held in 2005, starting from Qatar.
Eastward route
Crewed
Single-handed
Multihulls
| Year | Time | Skipper | Yacht | Type | Note |
| 2017 | 42d 16h 40m 35s | Macif | Trimaran 100 ft | Arrived on 17 December 2017, non-stop. Also the second fastest outright circumnavigation time. | |
| 2016 | 49d 3h 7m 38s | Sodebo Ultim | Trimaran 102 ft | Arrived on 25 December 2016, non-stop. Also the sixth fastest outright circumnavigation time. | |
| 2008 | 57d 13h 34m 06s | IDEC 2 | Trimaran 97 ft | Arrived on 19 January 2008, non-stop. | |
| 2005 | 71d 14h 18m 33s | B&Q/Castorama | Trimaran 75 ft | Arrived on 8 February, non-stop. | |
| 2004 | 72d 22h 54m 22s | :fr:Poulain |IDEC | Trimaran | Non-stop | |
| 1989 | 125d | :fr:Poulain |Un autre regard | Trimaran | Two stops | |
| 1988 | 129d 19h 17m | Kriter brut de brut | Trimaran | Two stops | |
| 1973 | 169d | Manureva | Trimaran | One stop |
Monohulls
| Year | Time | Skipper | Yacht | Type | Context |
| 2017 | 74d 3h 35m | Banque Populaire VIII | IMOCA 60 | During Vendée Globe 2016-2017, non-stop and no assistance | |
| 2013 | 78d 2h 16m | MACIF | IMOCA 60 | During Vendée Globe 2012-2013, non-stop and no assistance | |
| 2009 | 84d 3h 09m | Foncia | IMOCA 60 | During Vendée Globe 2008-2009, non-stop and no assistance | |
| 2005 | 87d 10h 45m 55s | PRB | IMOCA 60 | During Vendée Globe 2004-2005, non-stop and no assistance | |
| 2001 | 93d 3h 57m 32s | PRB | IMOCA 60 | During Vendée Globe 2000-2001, non-stop and no assistance | |
| 1997 | 105d 20h 31m 23s | Geodis | Monohull | During Vendée Globe 1996-1997, non-stop and no assistance | |
| 1990 | 109d 08h 48' 50" | Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II | Monohull | During Vendée Globe 1989-1990, non-stop and no assistance | |
| 1988 | 657d 21h 18m | Parry Endeavour | Monohull | Triple non-stop solo circumnavigation, longest distance sailed non-stop by any vessel | |
| 1986 | 150d 1h 6m | American Promise | Monohull | 12 November 1985 – 11 April 1986, non-stop | |
| 1985 | 236d 10h 45m | Laiviņa | Monohull | Started 14 October 1984 at Victoria, BC, Canada, broke self steering rudder after 10 days. Restarted at Santa Barbara on 3 November 1984, returned to Santa Barbara on 27 June 1985, non-stop. Completed voyage at Victoria, BC, Canada on 14 July 1985. Guinness record. | |
| 1982 | 419d 22h 10m | Perie Banou | Monohull | The first single-handed sailor to remain continuously at sea twice around the world west to east via Southern Ocean | |
| 1969 | 313d | Suhaili | Monohull | Attempt at Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. Achieved first non-stop single handed circumnavigation. | |
| 1967 | 226d | Gipsy Moth IV | Monohull | Solo attempt. One Stop in Sydney. Second person to achieve a true circumnavigation of the world solo, after Joshua Slocum. |
Westward route
This route is the more demanding one, as it faces the dominant winds and currents. There are fewer attempts and records.Crewed
As of February 2010, no record has been homologated.Single-handed
In May 2006, Dee Caffari became the first woman to sail around the world alone non-stop and single-handed westward on the Monohull Aviva, in 178 days.Passage records
| Skipper | Year | Ushant Equator | Equator Good Hope | Good Hope Leeuwin | Leeuwin Cape Horn | Cape Horn Equator | Equator Ushant |
| :fr:Yann Guichard|Yann Guichard | 2015 | 4 d 19 h 57 ' | 7 d 17 h 11 ' | ||||
| Francis Joyon | 2016 | 5 d 18 h 59 ' | 7 d 00 h 29 ' | 4 d 11 h 31 ' | 9 d 08 h 46 ' | 8 d 12 h 24 ' | 5 d 19 h 21 ' |
| Loïck Peyron | 2011 | 5 d 14 h 55 ' | 6 d 06 h 53 ' | 6 d 02 h 09 ' | 12 d 22 h 22 ' | 7 d 04 h 27 ' | 7 d 10 h 58 ' |
| :fr:Yann Guichard|Yann Guichard | 2015 | 4 d 21 h 29 ' | 7 d 00 h 35 ' | 6 d 13 h 21 ' | 12 d 06 h 03 ' | 9 d 09 h 24 ' | 7 d 21 h 28 ' |
| Francis Joyon | 2015 | 5 d 05 h 01 ' | 8 d 04 h 10 ' | 5 d 15 h 26 ' | 12 d 05 h 10 ' | 9 d 13 h 06 ' | 6 d 23 h 56 ' |
| Franck Cammas | 2009 | 5 d 15 h 23 ' | 7 d 02 h 23 ' | 7 d 00 h 51 ' | 10 d 14 h 12 ' | 9 d 16 h 35 ' | 6 d 10 h 44 ' |
| Bruno Peyron | 2005 | 7 d 02 h 56 ' | 7 d 05 h 23 ' | 7 d 07 h 39 ' | 12 d 00 h 29 ' | 8 d 05 h 36 ' | 9 d 21 h 15 ' |
| Steve Fossett | 2004 | 8 d 06 h 28 ' | 9 d 17 h 01 ' | 7 d 14 h 39 ' | 14 d 02 h 08 ' | 10 d 10 h 47 ' | 8 d 06 h 29 ' |
| O. de Kersauson | 2003 | 6 d 11 h 26 ' | 10 d 03 h 09 ' | 9 d 09 h 18 ' | 15 d 11 h 34 ' | 11 d 17 h 10 ' | 14 d 15 h 21 ' |
| Bruno Peyron | 2002 | 7 d 22 h 00 ' | 10 d 20 h 40 ' | 12 d 19 h 30 ' | 10 d 12 h 42 ' | 11 d 01 h 57 ' | 11 d 03 h 48 ' |
| François Gabart | 2017 | 5 d 20 h 45 ' | 5 d 23 h 25 ' | 7 d 18 h | 9 d 13 h 05 ' | 6 d 22 h 15 ' | 6 d 15 h 10 ' |
| Thomas Coville | 2016 | 5 d 17 h 15 ' | 8 d 11 h 29 ' | 6 d 22 h 25 ' | 10 d 08 h 21 ' | 10 d 03 h 23 ' | 7 d 12 h 14 ' |
| Francis Joyon | 2007 | 6 d 16 h 58 ' | 8 d 14 h 18 ' | 7 d 8 h 11 ' | 12 d 21 h 08 ' | 12 d 13 h 42 ' | 9 d 11 h 16 ' |
| Ellen MacArthur | 2004 | 8 d 18 h 20 ' | 10 d 00 h 00 ' | 10 d 19 h 05 ' | 18 d 04 h 20 ' | 15 d 13 h 24 ' | 11 d 01 h 18 ' |
| Armel Le Cléac'h | 2017 | 9 d 09 h 56 ' | 8 d 17 h 34 ' | 10 d 16 h 42 ' | 18 d 04 h 20 ' | 14 d 11 h 49 ' | 12 d 15 h 15 ' |
| François Gabart | 2013 | 11 d 00 h 20 ' | 12 d 03 h 23 ' | 11 d 06 h 40 ' | 17 d 17 h 55 ' | 13 d 19 h 21 ' | 12 d 00 h 37 ' |
| Michel Desjoyeaux | 2009 | 13 d 15 h 41 ' | 13 d 08 h 53 ' | 10 d 06 h 49 ' | 19 d 07 h 45 ' | 15 d 02 h 04 ' | 12 d 09 h 57 ' |
| Vincent Riou | 2005 | 10 d 12 h 13 ' | 13 d 14 h 05 ' | 12 d 07 h 30 ' | 20 d 05 h 25 ' | 15 d 20 h 11 ' | 14 d 20 h 49 ' |
| Skipper | Year | Good Hope Cape Horn | Equator Equator | Equator Cape Horn | Cape Horn Ushant | Indian Ocean WSSRC | Pacific Ocean WSSRC |
| Francis Joyon | 2016 | 13 d 20 h 13 ' | 29 d 09 h 10 ' | 20 d 20 h 46 ' | 14 d 07 h 45 ' | 5 d 21 h 09 ' | 7 d 21 h 14 ' |
| Loïck Peyron | 2011 | 19 d 00 h 31 ' | 32 d 11 h 51 ' | 25 d 07 h 23 ' | 14 d 15 h 25 ' | 8 d 07 h 23 ' | 10 d 15 h 07 ' |
| :fr:Yann Guichard|Yann Guichard | 2015 | 18 d 06 h 03 ' | 34 d 08 h 02 ' | 25 d 06 h 38 ' | 17 d 06 h 54 ' | 8 d 04 h 45 ' | 9 d 23 h 30 ' |
| Francis Joyon | 2015 | 17 d 20 h 36 ' | 35 d 13 h 52 ' | 26 d 00 h 46 ' | 16 d 13 h 02 ' | 7 d 00 h 00 ' | 10 d 23 h 10 ' |
| Franck Cammas | 2009 | 17 d 15 h 03 ' | 36 d 02 h 03 ' | 26 d 09 h 27 ' | 16 d 03 h 19 ' | 8 d 17 h 39 ' | 8 d 18 h 41 ' |
| Bruno Peyron | 2005 | 18 d 08 h 08 ' | 33 d 16 h 06 ' | 25 d 03 h 35 ' | 18 d 02 h 39 ' | 9 d 11 h 04 ' | 8 d 18 h 08 ' |
| Steve Fossett | 2004 | 21 d 16 h 47 ' | 41 d 20 h 35 ' | 31 d 09 h 48 ' | 18 d 17 h 16 ' | ||
| O. de Kersauson | 2003 | 25 d 01 h 52 ' | 46 d 22 h 11 ' | 35 d 05 h 01 ' | 16 d 07 h 31 ' | ||
| Bruno Peyron | 2002 | 23 d 08 h 12 ' | 45 d 06 h 49 ' | 34 d 04 h 52 ' | 22 d 05 h 45 ' | ||
| François Gabart | 2017 | 17 d 07 h 05 ' | 30 d 04 h 45 ' | 23 d 06 h 30 ' | 13 d 13 h 25 ' | 9 d 13 h 40 ' | 7 d 15 h 15 ' |
| Thomas Coville | 2016 | 17 d 06 h 46 ' | 35 d 21 h 38 ' | 25 d 18 h 15 ' | 17 d 15 h 37 ' | 8 d 12 h 19 ' | 8 d 18 h 28 ' |
| Francis Joyon | 2007 | 20 d 05 h 20 ' | 41 d 09 h 14 ' | 28 d 19 h 38 ' | 22 d 00 h 58 ' | 9 d 12 h 03 ' | 10 d 14 h 30 ' |
| Ellen MacArthur | 2004 | 26 d 05 h 16 ' | 52 d 18 h 40 ' | 36 d 05 h 16 ' | 26 d 14 h 42 ' | 14 d 01 h 37 ' | 12 d 13 h 39 ' |
| Armel Le Cléac'h | 2017 | 28 d 21 h 02 ' | 52 d 02 h 25 ' | 37 d 14 h 36 ' | 27 d 03 h 04 ' | 13 d 17 h 29 ' | 15 d 00 h 19 ' |
| François Gabart | 2013 | 29 d 02 h 35 ' | 55 d 01 h 19 ' | 41 d 05 h 19 ' | 25 d 20 h 37 ' | 14 d 19 h 20 ' | 14 d 11 h 56 ' |
| Michel Desjoyeaux | 2009 | 29 d 15 h 42 ' | 58 d 01 h 31 ' | 42 d 23 h 43 ' | 17 d 12 h 01 ' | ||
| Vincent Riou | 2005 | 32 d 14 h 55 ' | 62 d 01 h 45 ' | 46 d 05 h 00 ' | 17 d 12 h 01 ' | 19 d 17 h 34 ' |
Intermediate records
The rules for intermediate records are set by the WSSRC.- Equator to Equator
- Indian Ocean
- Pacific Ocean
- South Atlantic Ocean
From Equator to Equator
| Date | Time | Skipper | Yacht | Type | Crew |
| 2017 | 29 j 09 h 10 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC sport | multihull | Crewed |
| 2011 | 32 j 11 h 51 min | Loïck Peyron | Banque Populaire V | multihull | Crewed |
| 2005 | 33 j 16 h 06 min | Bruno Peyron | Orange II | multihull | Crewed |
| 2015 | 34 j 08 h 02 min | Yann Guichard | Maxi Spindrift 2 | multihull | Crewed |
| 2016 | 35 j 13 h 52 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC sport | multihull | Crewed |
| 2010 | 36 j 02 h 03 min | Franck Cammas | Groupama 3 | multihull | Crewed |
| 2017 | 30 j 04 h 45 min | François Gabart | Macif | multihull | Singlehanded |
| 2016 | 35 j 21 h 38 min | Thomas Coville | Sodebo Ultim | multihull | Singlehanded |
| 2008 | 41 j 09 h 14 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC | multihull | Singlehanded |
| 2005 | 52 j 18 h 40 min | Ellen MacArthur | B&Q/Castorama | multihull | Singlehanded |
| 2017 | 52 j 02 h 25 min | Armel Le Cléac’h | Banque populaire | Monohull | Singlehanded |
| 2013 | 55 j 01 h 19 min | François Gabart | Macif | Monohull | Singlehanded |
Indian Ocean
from Cape Agulhas, South Africa to Tasmania south point,| Date | Time | Skipper | Yacht | Type | Crew |
| 2017 | 5 j 21 h 09 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC sport | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2015 | 7 j 00 h 00 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC sport | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2015 | 8 j 04 h 45 min | Yann Guichard | Maxi Spindrift 2 | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2011 | 8 j 07 h 23 min | Loïck Peyron | Banque Populaire V | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2010 | 8 j 17 h 39 min | Franck Cammas | Groupama 3 | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2005 | 9 j 11 h 04 min | Bruno Peyron | Orange II | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2016 | 8 j 12 h 19 min | Thomas Coville | Sodebo Ultim | Multihull | Single-handed |
| 2007 | 9 j 12 h 03 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC | Multihull | Single-handed |
| 2005 | 14 j 01 h 37 min | Ellen MacArthur | B&Q/Castorama | Multihull | Single-handed |
| 2016 | 13 j 17 h 29 min | Armel Le Cléac'h | Banque populaire VIII | Monohull | Single-handed |
| 2012 | 14 j 19 h 20 min | Armel Le Cléac’h | Banque populaire | Monohull | Single-handed |
Pacific Ocean
south point, to Cape Horn| Date | Time | Skipper | Yacht | Type | Crew |
| 2017 | 7 j 21 h 14 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC sport | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2005 | 8 j 18 h 08 min | Bruno Peyron | Orange II | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2010 | 8 j 18 h 41 min | Franck Cammas | Groupama 3 | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2015 | 9 j 23 h 30 min | Yann Guichard | Maxi Spindrift 2 | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2011 | 10 j 15 h 07 min | Loïck Peyron | Banque Populaire V' | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2015 | 10 j 23 h 10 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC sport | Multihull | Crewed |
| 2017 | 7 j 15 h 15 min | François Gabart | Macif | Multihull | Single-handed |
| 2016 | 8 j 18 h 28 min | Thomas Coville | Sodebo Ultim | Multihull | Single-handed |
| 2007 | 10 j 14 h 30 min | Francis Joyon | IDEC | Multihull | Single-handed |
| 2004 | 12 j 13 h 39 min | Ellen MacArthur | B&Q/Castorama | Multihull | Single-handed |
| 2016 | 15 j 00 h 19 min | Armel Le Cléac'h | Banque populaire VIII | Monohull | Single-handed |
| 2013 | 14 j 11 h 56 min | François Gabart | Macif'' | Monohull | Single-handed |
South Atlantic Ocean
From Cape Horn to Cape Agulhas, South Africa| Date | Time | Skipper | Yacht | Type | Crew |
| 17 March 2005 | 11d 10h 22m 13s | Doha | Multihull | Crewed |
From Jules Verne Trophy starting line (Ushant) to Equator (out of WSSRC rule)
From Equator to Cape of Good Hope (out of WSSRC rules)
From Cape Horn to Equator (out of WSSRC rules)
From the cape Horn, cutting the longitude 67°16'W, up to the Equator| Date | Time | Skipper | Yacht | Type | Crew |
| 30 December 2011 | 07d 5h and 0m | Banque Populaire V | Multihull | Crewed | |
| 26 February 2005 | 08d 5h and 36m | Orange II | Multihull | Crewed | |
| 2004 | 10d 10h and 47m | Cheyenne | Multihull | Crewed | |
| 2002 | 11d 1h and 57m | Orange | Multihull | Crewed | |
| 2004 | 12d 10h and 25m | Geronimo | Multihull | Crewed |