Transatlantic sailing record


Since the five-week voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, quickly and safely, between Europe and the Americas has always been an important issue. Today, the route has become a classic one among skippers. The record is one of the most prestigious, next to the Jules Verne Trophy, for which it is often a good preparation.
This record can be achieved both ways: from west to east or from east to west. It can also be homologated single-handed or crewed, on monohulls or on multihulls.
It is homologated, since 1972, by the WSSRC

From west to east

This route is the fastest, as it follows the prevailing westerlies. It is the one that meets the most interest among skippers.
The crossing must be made from Ambrose Light of New York to an imaginary line linking Lizard Point, Cornwall to Ushant. The distance is around.

Crewed http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/transatlantic-ambrose-light-tower-to-lizard-point-crewed.html WSSRC transatlantic W-E crewed

TimeYachtSkipperCrewDateAverage speed
12d 4h 1m 19s AtlanticCharlie Barr1905
10d 5h 14m 20s Paul RicardÉric TabarlyÉric Bourhis, Georges Calvé, Dominique Pipat1980
9d 10h 6m 34s Elf AquitaineMarc Pajot1981
8d 16h 36m Jet Services 2Patrick MorvanJean Le Cam, Marc Guillemot, 1984
7d 21h 5m 42s Royale 2Loïc Caradec1985
7d 12h 49m 34s Fleury Michon VIIIPhilippe Poupon1987
7d 6h 32m Jet Service VSerge MadecMarc Guillemot1988
6d 13h 3m 32s Jet Service VSerge Madec1990
6d 17h 52m 39sMariCha IVRobert Miller2003
5d 14h 21min 25s Comanche Casey SmithStan Honey, Tony Mutter, Dirk de Ridder, Chris Maxted, Jon von Schwarz, Juggy Clougher, Julien Cressant, Nick Dana, Pablo Arrarte, Pepe Ribes, Peter van Niekerk, Phil Harmer, Richard Clarke, Robert Greenhalgh, Shannon Falcone, Yann Riou2016
4d 17h 28m 6s PlayStationSteve FossettStan Honey, Ben Wright, Dave Scully, Gino Morrelli, Peter Hogg, Shaun Biddulph, Dave Calvert, Paul Van Dyke, David Weir2001
4d 8h 23m 54s Orange IIBruno PeyronRoger Nilson, Bernard Stamm, Ludovic Aglaor, Florent Chastel, Pascal Bidégorry, Jacques Caraes, Ronan Le Goff, Jean-Baptiste Epron, Yann Guichard, Clément Surtel, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant2006
4d 3h 57m 54s Groupama 3Franck CammasFranck Proffit, Stève Ravussin, Frédéric Le Peutrec, Sébastien Audigane, Yann Guichard, Ronan Le Goff, Bruno Jeanjean, Loïc Le Mignon, Pascal Blouin2007
3d 15h 25min 48s Banque Populaire V Pascal BidégorryRonan Lucas, Kévin Escoffier, Yvan Ravussin, Ewen Le Clech, Sébastien Audigane, Florent Chastel, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Emmanuel Le Borgne, Marcel Van Triest, Pierre-Yves Moreau, Xavier Revil2009

Single-handed

TimeYachtSkipperDateAverage speed
11d 11h 46m 36s ExplorerBruno Peyron1987
9d 21h and 42min Pierre 1erFlorence Arthaud1990
9d 19h and 22min ExplorerBruno PeyronJuly 1992
7d 2h 34m 42s PrimagazLaurent BourgnonJune 1994
6d 4h 1m 37s :fr:Poulain |IDECFrancis Joyon6 July 2005
5d 19h 29m 20s SodeboThomas Coville15 July 2008
5d 2h 56m 10s IDEC 2Francis Joyon16 June 2013
5d 2h 07m IDEC SportFrancis Joyon13 July 2017
4d 11h 10m 23s Sodebo UltimThomas Coville15 July 2017

From east to west

This crossing is made between Cadiz and San Salvador Island, for a distance of. It was also called Route of the discovery in honor of Christopher Columbus and his 1492 crossing.

Crewed

Single-handed