Francis Joyon has set a new race record winning the 2018 Route du Rhum

Francis Joyon has set a new race record winning the 2018 Route du Rhum, in what was the closest finish since the race began in 1978. The transatlantic race came down to the final moments with Joyon closing out François Gabart and the wounded Macif by a mere seven minutes and eight seconds.

This is the eighth Route du Rhum for Joyon, an offshore sailing veteran, who has set multiple speed records throughout his career. Joyon beats the previous Route du Rhum record set by Loïck Peyron in 2014 by just 46 minutes and 45 seconds. For an extra twist in the plot, Joyon was sailing an older generation Ultime, the same boat Peyron sailed in 2014 under the name Banque Populaire VII.