USHANT, France, March 17 (UPI) -- Fourteen men aboard a 120-foot catamaran have smashed the record for sailing around the world non-stop by achieving the feat in 50 days.
French skipper Bruno Peyron's Orange II reached a point off Ushant, France, Wednesday, to set the mark at 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and four seconds, the Telegraph reported Thursday.
It was a week better than the previous record set last year by U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett aboard his 125-foot catamaran Cheyenne.
Orange II set a blistering pace, with more than 12 separate 24-hour periods where it covered more than 600 miles. The vessel posted an overall average speed of 25.53 mph.
Peyron has now claimed the record three times.
"This is a genuine record, which is beyond dispute. The boat is certainly a classy creation and was handled by a superb crew," he said as he crossed the finish line.
It was the second such record to fall in two months. Last month, Britain's Ellen MacArthur set a solo record for sailing around the world non-stop by achieving the feat in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds.
