Results come quickly for boat test

Austrian skipper Norbert Sedlacek Koch had been promoting a record-breaking sailing effort, and while it is likely the reference was more about getting people’s attention than actually establishing an observed accomplishment, he didn’t get too far for the authenticity to be challenged.

On August 15, he embarked from Les Sables de’Olonne, France, on a solo, non-stop around the world course on his 60-footer, and after two nights and 650 nm, he struck a UFO and broke his rudder. He ended his trip, arriving back to Les Sables d’Olonne August 19 on the evening high tide under partial sail.

As Founder and Managing Director of Innovation Yachts, the one notable element of his effort was how the boat is allegedly made from fully recyclable and sustainable materials, with the circumnavigation intended to test the integrity of the equipment under harsh ocean conditions. So far, not so good.