Peyron set to break record

Charging Home at a blistering 30 knots plus, Bruno Peyron was set last night to smash the record for sailing round the world, writes Stuart Alexander in Brest.

Charging Home at a blistering 30 knots plus, Bruno Peyron was set last night to smash the record for sailing round the world, writes Stuart Alexander in Brest.

The Frenchman's 120ft catamaran, Orange II, was expected to cross the finish line off Ushant in an estimated time of 50 days and 18 hours. The previous record is 58 days and nine hours, set by the American adventurer Steve Fossett in Cheyenne a year ago. Ellen MacArthur's time of 71 days, set last month, was a record for a solo circumnavigation, whereas Peyron has a crew of 12 with him.

Peyron, 49, was first to lift the Jules Verne Trophy, created to set a target of 80 days, in 1993. Fossett's time, although the outright record, did not count for the Jules Verne as he declined to join the competition.

Peyron's second win was in 2002 in the previous Orange. He has set records for every stage of a circumnavigation.