The slow, slow road to becoming flat-out fastest – Matt Sheahan

Ocean racing tech seems to be developing at breakneck pace – but it takes years to get these complex beasts up to speed

Thomas Coville and Sodebo, racing in the Arkea Ultim Challenge 2024. Photos: Alexis Courcoux

When Francis Joyon and his crew aboard IDEC Sport set a ground-breaking record for a non-stop lap of the planet in 2017 it was clear their trip had been an exceptional one.

They hadn’t just beaten the record set five years earlier, but smashed it – taking five days off the previous best.