An American sailor, Lloyd Thornburg, has set a new world record for the fastest sail around Ireland, beating the previous record by an hour and 45 minutes.
Thornburg and his crew set off from Dún Laoghaire at 3.09pm on Wednesday and returned after 4am this morning.
The circumnavigation of the island took just over 36 hours and 52 minutes.
The previous world record of 38 hours, 37 minutes and 7 seconds was set by Musandam Oman-Sail in last June’s Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race.
Team Phaedo following their record breaking sail around Ireland | Image: Team Phaedo on Facebook
Thornburg said the crew, including Irishman Damian Foxall, were exhausted but it was worth every second.
“You really appreciate how beautiful this island is when you see it from the coast-side. The first time we came here was when we took part in the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht race last June."
"We had to come back and do it again and setting a new world record made it all the more worthwhile," he added.
"It was intense but we’d do it again tomorrow, and we will be back!"
The new record will be official following ratification by WSSRC (World Speed Sailing Record Council).
