SAILINGISLAND sailor Brian Thompson is on course to make history tonight (Friday) as he completes the Jules Verne Trophy round-the-world race.
Brian, of Northwood, is part of the 14-man crew of Banque Populaire V, skippered by Frenchman Loick Peyron, which is expected to smash the current round-the-world speed record of 48 days, seven hours, 34 minutes and 52 seconds when it crosses the finish line at around midnight.
Brian is the only British crew member onboard and by finishing the race will become the first British sailor to complete four non-stop sails around the world, beating existing records held by Dee Caffari and Mike Golding.
Speaking through his latest blog on Wednesday, Brian said: 'We are delighted with our current status and keeping everything crossed we can enter the record books later this week.
"I am very proud to be flying the flag for Britain on this voyage and, this being the fourth time I have raced non-stop around the world, have been able to make many comparisons with previous circumnavigations. Believe me, the exhilaration of being onboard Banque Populaire V is like nothing else I have experienced.’
Brian has already made a huge mark on world sailing, completing the Vendee Globe Race in 2009 as well as notching up 25 sailing records throughout his career.
He aims to win the next Vendee Globe at the end of this year, while in 2013 he plans to break the ultimate record in sailing, by going round the world, solo, in a 105ft trimaran.