CHICAGO, April 5 (UPI) -- U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett has ridden a 125-foot catamaran around the world in 58 days to chop the previous world record by five days.
The 13-sailor crew reached their destination, the French island of Ouessant, on Monday after virtually flawless planning and execution of the historic voyage, according to Fossett's Web site.
Fossett, the 59-year-old holder of 20 sailing records, sailed his twin-hulled sloop 21,760 miles around the world in just 58 days, nine hours and 32 minutes; the previous record was 64 days, eight hours, set by France's Bruno Peyron in 2002.
The approximate average speed of his 125-foot custom-made vessel, the Cheyenne, was 15 mph.
Besides the United States, crew members came from Britain, Ireland, Spain, France, Australia and New Zealand.
The Chicago businessman holds numerous other records, including making the first round-the-world manned balloon flight in 2002
He says his next challenge will be to fly non-stop around the world without refuelling in a jet plane
