Factfile
Name	Loïck Peyron
Nation	France
Date of Birth	1 December 1959
Place of Birth	Nantes, France
Class sailed	Various - offshore
Website	www.loickpeyron.com Click here to view Photo Gallery

On 6 January 2012 at 22:14 UTC Loïck Peyron entered the history books as he and 13 crew aboard the 40m maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V smashed the Outright Around the World Record to become the fastest men around the planet.

Their target was to sail the 21,600 miles in less than 48 days, an impressive record set by Franck Cammas and Groupama 3 in 2010.

Battling the conditions and keeping up the pace was energy-sapping but having clocked up 29,002 miles at an average of 26.51 knots they crossed the line in 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds. In doing so Peyron and his crew shattered the previous record by a staggering 2 days, 18 hours, 1 minute and 59 seconds to claim the Jules Verne Trophy.

With the wind gods playing ball in their Jules Verne Trophy quest the team also set two new intermediate records for Equator to Equator at 32d 11h 52m and the Indian Ocean record at 8d, 7h 23m.

Loïck Peyron is amongst the most decorated offshore sailors of all time with his success spanning single handed, two person and crewed ocean racing right through to the America's Cup.

Acheivements between 31 September 2011 and 31 August 2012

Record: Outright Around the World
Elapsed Time: 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes and 53 seconds
Distance : 21600 NM
Average Speed : 19:75 kts
22 November 2011 to 6 January 2012.

Q&A

What inspired you to take up sailing?

My family - my father took me and my brothers Bruno and Stéphane out sailing.

What was the firs boat you ever sailed and how old were you?

I was one or two, on a little dinghy.

Name of your first sailing club?

Yacht Club de la Baule

What was the first even you competed in and in what year?

A dinghy race in La Baule. I was eight.

What are your personal sailing career highlights?

48 Atlantic Crossings - 18 alon, four Round the World Race and three times Ostar Winner.

What are your future sailing goals?

America's Cup

Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing career?

Parents and Mike Birch

Who is your sailing hero?

Captain Jack Aubrey from the Patrick O'Brian Series

What other sports do you enjoy?

Kitesurfing, golf and snowboarding

What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards mean to you and how would you feel if you were voted the winner?

Honoured and proud of what I've done in the last 35 years at sea.