Paris playing catch-up as early progress hit by lack of wind

Stanley Paris has fallen behind the required pace in the early days of his round-the-world record bid.

The 76 year-old former Bermuda hotelier is attempting to become the oldest and fastest to sail the globe solo. The record stands at 150 days.

Paris crossed the start line, just off St David’s Lighthouse, on Saturday and has been making slow progress since then.

He wrote in his blog on Wednesday: “The past two and a half days have been very disappointing. 

“My average speed is only 4.42 knots and not all of those miles in the right direction. Yesterday for two hours there was a breath of wind. I dropped sails as the slamming and banging of windless sails and halyards was intense and potentially damaging to the gear. 

“But now some wind. The ghost of Dodge Morgan is at 523 miles and I am at 315 miles, and for the first time gaining on him. Cold meals last night, refrigerator and freezer off, unwashed dishes in the sink, no BBC radio. All of these and more are the actions I took to save power which bottomed at 23 per cent.”

Follow Paris’ progress at www.stanleyparis.com