Thomson smashes transatlantic sailing record (From Daily Echo)
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Hampshire sailor Alex Thomson beats record for fastest Atlantic crossing from New York to UK in racing yacht Hugo Boss
7:28pm Thursday 26th July 2012 in Sailing News
Alex Thomson celebrates beating the record for sailing solo across the Atlantic. Photo: Christophe Launay
HAMPSHIRE sailor Alex Thomson has smashed the world record for the fastest solo transatlantic crossing.
The 38-year-old Gosport -based sailor beat the existing record by more than 24 hours, crossing the finish line at Lizard Point, off Falmouth in Cornwall at 6.17pm today.
His time of eight days, 22 hours and eight minutes for the 2,800-nautical mile ocean crossing from New York beats the previous record that had stood for 10 years.
Alex said: “It has been a long few days. The first half from New York was great with weather conditions in our favour, but things started to slow down the closer I got.
“But the wind has held out this morning and it’s so fantastic to have broken this record.”
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