Catamaran Orange II breaks round-the-world record

French catamaran Orange II broke the round-the-world sailing record yesterday by more than seven days. Skipper Bruno Peyron and his 13-man crew crossed the finishing line west of the English Channel at 0223 GMT (3.23 a.m. Malta time) after 50 days, 16...

French catamaran Orange II broke the round-the-world sailing record yesterday by more than seven days.

Skipper Bruno Peyron and his 13-man crew crossed the finishing line west of the English Channel at 0223 GMT (3.23 a.m. Malta time) after 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and four seconds at sea.

"We tried to get it just right, as we have done throughout the journey," Peyron was quoted as saying by his team's official website.

"It is more emotion than joy. It corresponds to the long hard slog."

In February, British yachts-woman Ellen MacArthur set a solo round-the-world record of 71 days and 14 hours.

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