Virbac Paprec 3 at full pelt. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Virbac Paprec.
by Barcelona World Race media
Virbac Paprec 3, currently lying second in the Barcelona World Race has sailed 516 nautical miles over the past 24 hours, potentially establishing a new speed record for the IMOCA 60 class.
The total of 516.37 miles was calculated as the distance covered by Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) and Loick Peyron (FRA) by Barcelona World Race tracking between 0900h (UTC) on January 21 and 0900h today, January 22 2011. This equates to an average speed of 21.51 knots.
The distance is subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WRSSC), but if confirmed will set a new 60ft monohull 24-hour speed, which was set by Hugo Boss in the previous edition of the Barcelona World Race in 2007 when Alex Thomson (GBR) and Andrew Cape (AUS) covered 501.3 miles at an average speed of 20.88 knots. That edition of the race was won by Jean-Pierre Dick, then sailing with Damian Foxall (IRE).
Virbac Paprec 3is currently in second place behind Foncia, sailed by Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) and Francois Gabart (FRA), racing in the South Atlantic on their way to Gough Island, a waypoint of the course south-west of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
Note from SailRaceWin: Tweet from Alex Thomson (GBR) today (previous holder of the record, along with Andrew Cape (AUS)) - "big congrats to Virbac Paprec 3 for breaking mine and Capey's world record. 516 miles in 24 hours!!"
Barcelona World Race
