SMALL BOAT, BIG RECORD

Polish sailor Szymon Kuczynski, on his 6.36m Atlantic Puffin, has become the new world record holder for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe singlehanded and unaided.

Kuczynski, who departed from Plymouth in the UK in August last year, spent 270 days, 10 hours and 29 minutes, covering nearly 29,000 nautical miles, living in a space of only 4m2. He took the classic route round the three capes at the southern ends of Africa, Australia and South America.

The intrepid sailor self-funded the voyage and, by departing from and returning to Plymouth, followed in the footsteps of many legendary seafarers who set sail from the city to circumnavigate the globe, including Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Francis Drake.

Some 300 people have sailed singlehanded around the world but only 80 sailors have achieved this solo and unaided.