Question: While the IMOCA 60 is capable of single and double handed racing what has it been used as in this transglobal sailing record attempt ?

text: Around the world sailing record
Eastward route -- Single-handed

The first around the world sailing record for circumnavigation of the world was Juan Sebastián Elcano and the remaining members of Ferdinand Magellan's crew who completed their journey in 1522. The first solo record was set by Joshua Slocum in the Spray (1898). The current record holders are IDEC 3, skippered by Francis Joyon in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds for a crewed journey, and François Gabart with Macif in 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds for a solo journey. Most races or solo attempts start from Europe. Due to the configuration of the continents, sailing around the world consists of sailing on the Southern Ocean around the Antarctica continent, passing south of Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin. Since 1918 the Panama Canal is an option but the locks must be entered and exited using engine power. Large stretches of the canal can be crossed under sail power. Sailing around the world can be done by two directions: eastward or westward. The dominant winds and currents (outside tropical areas) make the voyage eastwards on the Southern hemisphere faster, most skippers and yachts who race prefer this route. Today, the multihulls perform much better than monohulls and hold the best times. Leisure yacht skippers who prefer tropical seas more often go westward, using the trade winds (and the Panama canal). The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded to the skipper who breaks the outright record, starting from an imaginary line between the Créac'h lighthouse on Ouessant (Ushant) Island, France, and the Lizard Lighthouse, UK.
Year Time Skipper Yacht Type Context
2017 ( January ) 74d 3h 35m Armel Le Cléac ' h ( FRA ) Banque Populaire VIII IMOCA 60 During Vendée Globe 2016-2017 , non-stop and no assistance
2013 ( January ) 78d 2h 16m François Gabart ( FRA ) MACIF IMOCA 60 During Vendée Globe 2012-2013 , non-stop and no assistance
2009 ( January ) 84d 3h 09m Michel Desjoyeaux ( FRA ) Foncia IMOCA 60 During Vendée Globe 2008-2009 , non-stop and no assistance
2005 ( Feb ) 87d 10h 45m 55s Vincent Riou ( FRA ) PRB IMOCA 60 During Vendée Globe 2004-2005 , non-stop and no assistance
2001 ( Feb ) 93d 3h 57m 32s Michel Desjoyeaux ( FRA ) PRB IMOCA 60 During Vendée Globe 2000-2001 , non-stop and no assistance
1997 105d 20h 31m 23s Christophe Auguin ( FRA ) Geodis Monohull During Vendée Globe 1996-1997 , non-stop and no assistance
1990 109d 08h 48 ' 50 Titouan Lamazou ( FRA ) Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II Monohull During Vendée Globe 1989-1990 , non-stop and no assistance
1988 657d 21h 18m Jon Sanders ( AUS ) Parry Endeavour Monohull Triple non-stop solo circumnavigation , longest distance sailed non-stop by any vessel ( 71,023 nautical miles )
1986 150d 1h 6m Dodge Morgan ( USA ) American Promise Monohull 12 November 1985 - 11 April 1986 , non-stop
1985 236d 10h 45m Peter Freeman ( CAN ) Laiviņa Monohull Started 14 October 1984 at Victoria , BC , Canada , broke self steering rudder after 10 days . Restarted at Santa Barbara on 3 November 1984 , returned to Santa Barbara on 27 June 1985 , non-stop . Completed voyage at Victoria , BC , Canada on 14 July 1985 . Guinness record
1982 419d 22h 10m Jon Sanders ( AUS ) Perie Banou Monohull The first single-handed sailor to remain continuously at sea twice around the world west to east via Southern Ocean
1969 313d Sir Robin Knox-Johnston ( GBR ) Suhaili Monohull Attempt at Sunday Times Golden Globe Race . Achieved first non-stop single handed circumnavigation
1967 226d Sir Francis Chichester ( GBR ) Gipsy Moth IV Monohull Solo attempt . One Stop in Sydney . Second person to achieve a true circumnavigation of the world solo , after Joshua Slocum