/world sport
(CNN) -- Frenchman Francis Joyon has broken the 24-hour distance record as he bids to beat Ellen MacArthur's record for going solo around the world.
Joyon leaves Brest at the start of his solo round the world record attempt.
Joyon covered 614 nautical miles, an average speed of 25.9 knots.
The record is subject to ratification from the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). The previous best distance was set last year at 610.45nm by Yvan Bourgnon onboard Brossard (average speed of 25.76 knots).
So far Joyon's passage across the Indian Ocean has been remarkable. As he entered his 19th day at sea, Joyon was 1,960nm ahead of Briton MacArthur's pace for the solo round the world record.
He is just about to pass the Kerguelen archipelago, with Cape Leeuwin the next big marker after that.
However, Joyon is expecting his incredible pace to drop off somewhat soon, as the weather changes. This at least will offer him an opportunity to try and get some rest and recuperate.
The 51-year-old had reached the Cape of Good Hope only 15 days and seven hours after departing from Brest on his record attempt on the 95ft trimaran IDEC.
That is fully four days and two hours faster than MacArthur achieved during her epic voyage in 2005.
Since passing the Cape of Good Hope, IDEC has continued across the Indian Ocean at a blistering pace, posting 24 hour distances of close to 600 nautical miles on most days.
Joyon held the record of 72 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds which he set in 2004, but MacArthur trimmed a little over the day off this mark a year later.
He needs to be back in Brest by February 3 (00.23 GMT) to claim the record. E-mail to a friend 
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