05.06.2009 Back to news
Kito de Pavant beat the record by 3 minutes and 31 seconds!
 | © Guilain Grenier |
After a “calm” morning off the Tunisian shores, the wind finally lifted at 14:00 and afterwards, Kito hung on in there to get the very best from this east-northeast wind which quickly settled at around 12 knots. He quickly pocketed this single-handed monohull record and has thus established the first reference time for IMOCA 60 foot yachts.
The weather played havoc with the skipper’s nerves. Although the window did not forecast a howling wind, the weather files did indicate a minimum 15 knot wind for the crossing with a good angle for a direct trajectory to Carthage. Once again, the Mediterranean showed itself to be unpredictable and the weather conditions were not up to expectation. Even if he hoped to achieve a better time on this record attempt, Kito, nonetheless, opens the way for the IMOCA Class and hopes to motivate his contenders to make the same attempt in the near future. As for Kito, there is nothing to prevent him from taking the starting line again in the next few months.
“It was crazy, I stayed 3 hours literally glued to the water before passing the last point and then the wind rose in one fell swoop and we did it. It was tight, but we did it!
On the whole crossing, we had less wind than planned. We were expecting more than 20 knots on the first night, then an average of 15 knots between Sardinia and Tunisia, however the weather window was short and the wind continued to slacken. Nevertheless, it was in good direction.
Even though I naturally hoped to achieve a better time, I am satisfied to have established this first 60 foot record. We got a lot of people involved with this record attempt, particularly in Marseille and Tunisia, where we were warmly welcomed. I hope that this will be the sign of a series of attempts to come, by my friends of the IMOCA Class. Perhaps we could even set off again, as soon as our programme permits.
I’m a little tired. I practically didn’t sleep through the crossing. It’s a lot of work to get a boat to make headway in an area of slack. The sails are huge and heavy to handle.
Anyway, it was a great pleasure to sail single-handed again on this boat!”
It is worth noting that Kito has already set off again in the direction of Port Camargue with two members of his team.
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