After the Atlantic in December 2002 (First single-handed transatlantic in the "20 feet sport" category (less than 20 feet sport catamaran without cabin), non stop, not assisted, approved by WSSRC/ISAF ) and the Pacific in August 2006 (World Record - North Pacific Ocean Crossing, single-handed, non stop, not assisted in the "20 feet sport" category, approved by WSSRC/ISAF) Alessandro Di Benedetto, a Franco-Italian geologist ,39 years old, decided to sail "around the world".

The challenge

Attempt to sail around the world, single-handed, non stop, not assisted, by a sailing boat 6.5  mt long
International certification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council/International Sailing Federation WSSRC/ISAF, first world competition and record all over the world.
In case of triumph it would be the first case of a sailing boat inferior to 32 ft accomplishing such a feat (Round World Sailing Records are certificated by WSSRC)
The new trip rules are very simple. They are the same used for  the Golden Globe, first regatta single-handed sailor held by Sunday Times in 1968/69, later become Vendée Globe:
    * A sailor, a sailing boat, the globe circumnavigation sailing past the 3 Capes at left (Agulhas, Leeuwin, Horn), without any landing and not assisted.

Thursday, March 4, 2010   08:06  am
"This morning the improvement of the weather coincided with the arrival of an albatross that had come flying over the boat . As soon as possible, I will sew sails and  restore contacts of  photovoltaic panels. Today after days of continuous rain and high wind, at last a few hours of sunshine and good wind to make way.

Tuesday, March 02 2010    00:02 am
Gust of wind from NE / NNE right now. Yesterday I saw other seals. I am entering the time zone UTC-11h

Sunday, February 28th  2010   07:45 am
The storm is over. According to my knowledge as a geologist, I should come across waves of  the tsunami , but they should not worry me and I should even not notice them because I am right in the middle of the sea with deep sea beds.
Congratulations to Federica and Andrea for the birth of Alessandro.

Saturday, February 27, 2010    02:03 pm
Today is a special day. Escorted by albatrosses and a few miles from the Antipodes and Bounty Island I am sailing across   the 180 degree meridian (12:20 UTC on 27 February, 00h20, 28 for me). For some minutes I have sailed in the west longitudes.

Wednesday, February 24th 2010    01:41 am
Today is a rich day for meetings. This time I did surprise the seal. I caught it red-handed as it was sleeping, on his back, in the morning sun. Then since there was no wind several albatrosses came and chat near the boat. And finally I saw a couple of seals . And this time I managed to film them!

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010    05:58 am
The gusts of wind are over. I wasn’t able to go to the Steward Island to get shelter from the wind. With only the storm jig ( small triangular vail for storms ) the boat was sailing like a surf giving the sensation to be a champagne cork on New Year’s Eve! The highest speed these days: 20.5 knots ! I can’t believe it. At the end of the gust of wind I sewed once again the torn jib. The paddles of the propeller of the hydro generator broke down. I replaced them with the extra ones -smaller . Today I had another emotion:  I was replacing the rope of the hydro generator when suddenly a seal appeared on the surface! This time I didn’t pet it; I could see it was in a hurry. For a few seconds it swam in the wake all the while getting near the boat. We looked at each other , greeted each other, then it dove under the bottom and I didn’t see it any more.
Point of sailing of the moment, close-hauled , getting near the borders to go up and to look for  the flow of west wind that Romain Lucat and Yves Parlier showed me. By the way I say hello to them and I thank them.
And now ... the Pacific.

Thursday, February 18th 2010   04:04
I ‘ve sailed 13 000 miles since the start. I am half way as for the distance. From today each wave brings me back to the Sables d’Olonnes

Thursday, February 18, 2010 02:18
Whales in sight this morning. Road to the south of Stewart Islands  to get  sheltered and protected  from the wind storm expected on Sunday .

Tuesday , February 16 , 2010   03:20 am
No wind. I immersed to control hull and rudders. Hull in good condition, clean and rudders in order. The water, besides being a little cold, is cloudy.

Sunday, February 14th 2010    09:40 am
Storm warning for Wednesday. So I am heading  for Tasmania Sea to avoid the strongest part, then, I will sail down South of New Zealand just before the ‘ big plunge’ in the Pacific.
The hydrogenerator was out of order but is now repaired. The bow veil was torn but is now fixed; Today a few hours very calm. So I prepared and cooked doughnut.

Tuesday, February 09th 2010    03:34
Hoisted up for several hours the gennaker  repaired. A few days ago it had torn, it was unexplained. I sewed it up for days on several meters. I hope the mending will last as long as possible. It is an important veil and also for the winds I now encounter. Within a short period I will be on the same meridian than Yokohama. I say hello to the Yokohama Bay Side Marina I am a member of. (www.ybmarina.com)

Tuesday  February 9, 2010    09:01 am
Right now there are winds blowing at 18/22 kts. The temperature is 15°C inside the boat, outside it is 14°C and   water is 9,5°C. The last albatrosses left him a week ago and he saw the last whale in the Southern part of the Atlantic

Tuesday February 9, 2010    08:10  am
Overcast but good wind to make good progress. Greet and thank all the people who take care  of weather forecast and routing : Lucat Romain, Yves Parlier, Sebastian Roubinet, Pierre Lasnier