While peering at Francis Joyon’s progress and the ARC rally in adjoining race viewer windows, I’m thinking: how good would it be to combine the best of the two and pulverise the ARC record by blasting down the Trades in a giant multihull?

Very, very good. Look at that picture on the right and think about it.

Because Ellen MacArthur’s trimaran B&Q is nicely refitted and lying idle in Cowes and I reckon we could get that thing across in 7 or 8 days.

Considering the fastest ARC time in its 22-year history was 11 days, our new time would probably be the longest standing ocean record around. And we could smash it with a couple of reefs in.

Come on, any takers?