Thomas Coville has broken the east to west Atlantic record aboard his 60ft trimaran Sodebo. Coville completed the east to west crossing between Cadiz and San Salvador on Friday and, subject to approval by the World Speed Sailing Record Council, his time of 10 days, 11 hours, 50 minutes and 20 seconds will shave 15 hours and 27 minutes off the existing record held by Francis Joyon aboard IDEC.

Sodebo covered the 4,614 miles at an average speed of 18.3kts. Feeling the influence of Hurricane Dennis, Coville crossed the finish line in 30kts of breeze sailing at 24kts.

As he stepped ashore Coville had a few words to say: “It is a mythical destination, a mythical course and has been a challenge physical, human and technical. I did not think that one can make a result like this. Francis Joyon’s boat was nine metres more and thus more potential compared to its length. I baited myself and that pays today, it is fabulous.”