Belgian skipper Quentin Debois departs from New York on his solo North Atlantic record attempt
by Laurence Hannon 10 Sep 09:54 BST
9 September 2026
Belgian skipper Quentin Debois departs from New York on his solo North Atlantic record attempt © Bjoern Kils
Belgian skipper Quentin Debois left the port of New York on September 9 at 7:52:42 p.m. New York time to set out on his second attempt at the world record for a solo west-to-east trans-Atlantic crossing. Quentin will have to cover 5,300 km in the North Atlantic, between New York and Lizard Point in southwestern England, in less than 17 days, 9 hours, and 57 minutes to beat the benchmark time set by American skipper Jay Thomson in 2023.
To follow Quentin's progress across the North Atlantic on Instagram and track him at www.predictwind.com/tracking/SV-ODIGO?tab=boat
Pushing the limits
Belgium's first record-holder for the Atlantic crossing enjoys taking on challenges that are bigger than himself. The world record for a solo North Atlantic crossing on a Mini 6.50 is one such challenge: as rare as it is demanding.
To date, only two skippers have achieved this feat on a Mini 6.50, the smallest offshore racing boat: David Allamelou (France) in 2018 and Jay Thompson (USA) in 2023. Quentin Debois aims to be the third and set a new record for Belgium.
For nearly three weeks, the skipper will have to sail strategically and adaptively in the face of extremely volatile and demanding weather conditions. Success will only be possible by constantly pushing his boat to the limit. He will need to maintain a steady pace while ensuring his safety.
Quentin Debois: "I am fully prepared and focused on succeeding in this race against myself and the elements. For a month and a half, I've prepared the boat down to the smallest detail and reinforced its structure. I'm setting off in optimal technical and mental condition. I'm ready to deal with shifting weather systems, strong winds, and more challenging conditions. I'm going to give it my all to break this second record. I know it will be epic, but that's what motivates me and pushes me to surpass myself!"
The challenges of the weather window and route planning
Quentin had been on standby in New York since August 12, waiting for the optimal weather window to open. He was on high alert, ready to set sail in less than six hours because the forecasts were extremely volatile. The daily analysis of weather forecasts and the projected routes from route planner Basile Rochut—calculated based on expected average speeds—had to allow for a projected theoretical arrival date and time that would beat the current record.
Basile Rochut gave the green light on September 9 because the forecast models indicated a lead of a few hours over the current record.
Basile Rochut: "What makes forecasting this record difficult is that the models vary widely from one another because the exact timings and positions of the low-pressure systems are poorly modeled. There was a lot of variation between the different models until they finally aligned yesterday for an immediate start. The windows are narrow - you have to pass through the low-pressure systems at exactly the right time, not before and not after - because the record is hard to beat. Quentin will absolutely have to stick to the route to have a chance, stay 100% focused on performance, and push the boat to the absolute limit!"
He provides more details on the chosen window: "Quentin set off from New York in a south-southwesterly flow associated with a cold front moving eastward with him. The idea is to take the shortest possible route, heading up toward Nova Scotia. The challenge over the next few days will be to navigate two small transition zones with lighter winds and position himself well to minimize the time spent in those zones before picking up the wind again."
Quentin was guided to the starting line by two pilot boats. They were able to confirm the start time to the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), which inspected the boat before the start and installed a black box on board to track the boat's progress and validate the record.
Quentin is heading north toward Long Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, then will turn east to cross the Atlantic.
Meticulous preparations
Just before his departure, Quentin spent half a day completing various essential tasks, such as stocking up on fresh food, filling his 80-liter water supply, and performing a final hull cleaning (cleaning the underwater portion of the hull) to improve glide.
Quentin carefully considered what to bring on board, striking a balance between light weight (for performance) and safety (repair supplies, spare parts, safety and survival equipment, first-aid kit, technical clothing, and food—60 meals).
He is also bringing eight sails, including two new ones—the mainsail and the Code 5—and a spare sail: a reefable medium-sized spinnaker. This medium-sized downwind sail (spinnaker) is equipped with a system that allows its surface area to be reduced in strong winds. This versatile sail can replace a medium-sized spinnaker or a Code 5 in the event of a tear.
"For the previous transatlantic race from Cádiz to the Bahamas, I mainly used the Spi Max. This time, due to the demanding weather conditions, I'll mainly be using the Code 5 and the Spi Médian."
Boosting performance and allowing no downtime
Quentin Debois: "To break the record, I'll have to helm for at least 10 hours a day. I'll only use the autopilot for rest periods of about twenty minutes because I have to remain extremely alert and quick. My average speed will need to be 10% higher than that of my previous record. The average speed I need to achieve should be 8.5 to 9 knots, compared to an average of 7.5 knots during the east-to-west Transatlantic race. I'll need to position myself constantly south of low-pressure systems to get enough wind. I'll move from one low-pressure system to the next and try to avoid conditions that are too strong and dangerous for the boat's safety. I'll try to avoid gusts exceeding 40 knots and waves over 4 meters."
Partners who make this adventure possible
A project like this is never a solo endeavour. Behind this attempt to set an Atlantic record are partners who have chosen to support the project and share its values: commitment, performance, innovation, and the desire to push the limits.
Their support makes it possible to prepare the boat, set up the project, and take on this new challenge across the North Atlantic.
Quentin Debois: "Every partner makes this adventure possible, and I am infinitely grateful to them. I called them before I left, and I know they are following my progress and supporting me every moment of the crossing. That helps me a lot when I face difficult moments at sea." I would like to thank ODIGO, Vimar, Pharmacie Familia, PERFECTY, IDEATEC, Smart D&A Engineering, Accountable, Teasio, THG Liège, BSTOR, Horus Software, De Graeve Works, Matgeco, Technochim, KBC Brussels, UK Sailmakers, Novadvice, ICF Belgium Chapter, I-Sea bv, Goéland Tech, Jean Verheyen, Linergy, and ICF."