# Around the world in (just over) 40 days - under sail **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 25, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/around-the-world-in-just-over-40-days-under-sail/1027012 "2026-01-25T17:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/around-the-world-in-just-over-40-days-under-sail/1027012/1 "2026-01-25T17:31:32Z")
Accomplished by _Sodebo_, a 105-ft trimaran. The time was 40:10:46 over 45,568 km, for an average speed of 54 kph / 33.5 mph / 29.17 kts. This beat the previous (2017) record by over 12 hours. A time under 40 days looked possible until encountering tricky Atlantic Ocean weather in the final week. Video with details: [Sodebo smashes Jules Verne Trophy record](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZE8O12PGNM). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/around-the-world-in-just-over-40-days-under-sail/1027012/2 "2026-01-25T17:34:32Z")
Just curious: Is there a minimum amount of miles that have to be traveled before it can be considered a trip around the world? ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/around-the-world-in-just-over-40-days-under-sail/1027012/3 "2026-01-25T17:47:31Z")
The start/finish is a line between Ushant and The Lizard - basically, the southwesternmost point in England and the northwesternmost point in France. You cross this westbound then must pass the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn (leaving all of these to port). You finish by crossing the start/finish line eastbound. I think the minimum possible distance matches the circumference of the Earth (40,075 km). ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/around-the-world-in-just-over-40-days-under-sail/1027012/4 "2026-01-25T18:20:35Z")
Except they eschewed using either of the Panama/Suez Canals and spent many thousands of miles going down and up the Atlantic… [Will either even let in sailboats I wonder? Portage?] ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/around-the-world-in-just-over-40-days-under-sail/1027012/5 "2026-01-25T19:26:39Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Except they eschewed using either of the Panama/Suez Canals and spent many thousands of miles going down and up the Atlantic Yes - using either canal would preclude properly passing the specified capes. And would violate rules requiring a nonstop voyage with no engine use. > [@](#): > > Will either even let in sailboats I wonder? Both will - for a fee: something like $3000 for the Panama Canal. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/around-the-world-in-just-over-40-days-under-sail/1027012/6 "2026-01-25T19:39:50Z")
Hat trick for the captain, 👏, nonstop around the world incredible, what a beast of a boat! I’ve been following Dee Caffari and her all women team of sailors on The Famous Project CIC are due to cross the finish today? Tomorrow? Incredible!