/world sport
(CNN) -- Maxi-catamaran Gitana 13 has set the fastest time for a North Pacific crossing, adding to its growing list of records.
The Gitana crew braved tough conditions to take over three days off the previous record.
Leaving San Francisco on 29 March, Lionel Lemonchois and crew crossed the finish line off Yokohama, in Tokyo Bay after 11 days, 12 minutes and 56 seconds.
It smashed the previous record time by three days, 22 hours, 27 minutes and 46 seconds, held by Olivier de Kersauson on Geronimo since 2006.
By choosing to take a more central route of 4,462 nautical miles, the Gitana team knew that the weather conditions would be difficult.
They completed the crossing at an average speed of 16.96 knots.
However in practice, the maxi-catamaran had to cover over 5,616 miles, bringing their average speed to 21.26 knots.
Their fastest speed of 39.7 knots is a new personal record for the crew. The best day recorded in terms of distance covered over the water in 24 hours was 3 April, with over 612 miles logged.
Sylvain Mondon, Gitana 13's router explained: "we're certainly very tired, as the past eleven days at sea have been intense.
"The Pacific offers some rapid and numerous weather sequences."
Gitana 13 will remain in Yokohama until early May and will attempt a series of records in the China Sea.
The next destination for the crew is Dalian, China, after a 1,500 mile record crossing attempt between the two towns.
They will then follow that by trying to set new record times between Qingdao, Taipei, Hong Kong and Macao, prior to returning to Hong Kong to set off on the Tea Route. E-mail to a friend 
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