John Kostecki, skipper of illbruck Challenge, the overall winning team of the Volvo Ocean Race was presented with the prestigious EDS 24-hour Monohull World Speed Record Trophy at a special prizegiving ceremony yesterday at the Yacht Club de France in Paris.

Kostecki, who flew in especially from Kiel, Germany, leaving the still jubilant winning celebrations, was joined by syndicate chairman and CEO of sponsoring company illbruck GmbH, Michael Illbruck along with Francis Meston, CEO of EDS France, Claude Breton of the World Sailing Speed Record Council, Pierre Paul Heckly, CEO of the Yacht Club de France and Mr Decré, Vice President of YCF.

illbruck smashed the previously held 24-hour record during Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race with a run of 484 nautical miles, adding another 16 miles to Bernard Stamm’s previously held 2000 record.

During the awards ceremony Kostecki expressed his delight at being awarded the Trophy and cash prize commenting: “We feel honoured to receive this very special Trophy. It was a very exciting moment out on the water and we were fortunate to have had the perfect conditions to keep the boat running as fast as it was.

“It’s great to be here today and I want to thank EDS for this award on behalf of the whole team. Sponsoring a Trophy like this is great for the sport.”

When asked what his next plans were John continued: “To go home to California and have a rest. But only for a week, then it’s back out to Europe and back racing a Farr 40 although this will be more for fun than intensive racing.”