Fastest circumnavigation east to west by sailing boat (solo)
- Who
- Bill Hatfield
- What
- 258:22:24:09 day(s):hour(s):minute(s):second(s)
- Where
- Not Applicable
- When
- 22 February 2020
Age Restriction: Applications for this record title will only be accepted if the applicant is 16 years of age or over.
The fastest solo circumnavigation east to west in a 40-ft-or-under sailboat is 258 days 22 hours 24 minutes 9 seconds, achieved by Bill Hatfield (Australia) between 8 June 2019 and 22 February 2020. This record was approved by the World Speed Sailing Record Council.
Hatfield (b. 14 January 1939) became the oldest person to sail around the world singlehandedly and non-stop. He was aged 80 years 145 when he set out in his yacht, L'Eau Commotion. Hatfield’s voyage is also the first westabout sailing solo circumnavigation – the more challenging route, against the prevailing winds – logged by the WSSRC.