Belgian Sailor Breaks Atlantic Record in 25 Days

Quentin Debois didn't step onto a sailboat until he was 31 years old. Now, at 38, he's the fastest person ever to sail solo across the Atlantic from east to west in a Mini 6.50 racing boat.

On January 31, Debois crossed the finish line in San Salvador, Bahamas, completing the journey from Cadiz, Spain in just 24 days, 19 hours, and 31 minutes. He beat the previous record by nearly six days, sailing a boat measuring less than seven meters long.

The Belgian skipper completed his first solo Atlantic crossing only three years ago, in 2023. His rapid rise from sailing novice to world record holder shows what dedicated training and the right team can accomplish.

Debois maintained exceptional morale throughout the 25-day voyage, constantly pushing to exceed his routing predictions. He called it his second Atlantic crossing and confirmed that solo ocean sailing is "the right thing for me."

The Ripple Effect

This achievement represents more than one man's athletic accomplishment. Debois worked with a six-person support team including a technical coach, router, mental coach, and communications specialists who helped him prepare and navigate the journey.

His sponsors report feeling energized by the attempt. Thibault De Haes, CEO of sponsor Pharmacie Familia, said the partnership created "a wind of dynamism and team spirit" through the company, regardless of whether the record was broken.

ODIGO's CEO Benjamin Van Daele noted that the record attempt brought colleagues together and created positive energy in their daily work. The project embodied values they care about: respect, sharing, commitment, and courage.

Debois credits his router Basile Rochut and technical coach Quentin Droneau for the success. He emphasized that the record resulted from long-term collective effort based on shared values, from boat preparation through the finish line.

Mental coach Victor Dehaze considered Debois a winner before he even started, noting that assembling such a complete team with strong partners in a short time was itself a remarkable achievement.

The World Sailing Speed Record Council still needs to officially ratify the record, but Debois has already proven that it's never too late to discover your calling and chase an extraordinary dream.