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Francis JOYON (FRA) is around two days up on Ellen MACARTHUR's (GBR) solo round the world record place, with IDEC posting 540-550 mile runs over the last 24 hours.

JOYON has bounced back from a downturn in speed on Monday, when, in the transition from the south east trade winds to large wind currents of the Antarctic, IDEC had a slowest period since her departure from Brest 13 days ago. Since Tuesday night though, IDEC has been sailing in a solid north northeasterly stream of around 20 knots. In these favourable conditions the giant red trimaran has been steaming along on a diagonal path across the South Atlantic, heading towards the Cape of Good Hope. From a 24-hour average of 320 miles at 13 knots on Tuesday morning, IDEC has hit the throttle and consistently posted speeds over 20 knots.

By this morning, JOYON had increased his lead over MACARTHUR's time to more than 1,000nm and was recording 24-hour runs of 550nm. At the latest 11:40 UTC poll, his current speed was up to 25.5 knots and the solo 24-hour distance record of Brossard (610.45nm at 25.76 knots) is beginning to look like it might be under threat…

The Record To Beat

Record: Round the World, non-stop, singlehanded
Yacht: B&Q
Skipper: Ellen MACATHUR (GBR)
Dates: 28 November 2004-7 February 2005
Elapsed time: 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds
Distance: 21,760 nm
Average Speed: 12.66 knots

Trimaran IDEC - www.trimaran-idec.com
World Sailing Speed Record Council - www.sailspeedrecords.com