Robert Miller’s 140ft super maxi, Mari Cha IV, which is currently attempting the west to east transatlantic record see news story here has already made its mark on the sailing world.

At 0730 UTC this morning, Miller and his crew re-wrote sailing history by becoming the first monohull ever to sail over 500 miles in one day.

Mari Cha IV bettered the previous record, of 484 nm (set by John Kostecki’s Illbruck on 29 April 2002 during the Volvo Ocean Race) when they sailed an unofficial 505 nm (to be ratified by the World Speed Sailing Council).

Mari Cha IV is now almost exactly half way through its transatlantic record attempt and looks set to complete the voyage in well under eight days. The existing record is 8 days, 20 hours, 55 minutes and 35 seconds, set by Bernard Stamm onboard Armour Lux.

Robert Miller, speaking from Mari Cha IV this morning, said: “What an amazing feeling. We have designed and built this fantastic yacht with one aim in mind to break records, and here we are on our first attempt and we have broken one already! I have a great team consisting of some of the best sailors in the world and together I’m pleased to say that we’re really showing what this awesome yacht can do.

“All of us onboard are in high spirits, but the hard work is, as always, relentless. We are well on course for the Transatlantic record, but will continue to push hard until we reach England.”