French skipper Francois Gabart reacts after his world record, in the Brest harbor, western France, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Gabart has broken the record for sailing around the world alone, circumnavigating... (Associated Press) 
 
 French skipper Francois Gabart reacts after his world record, in the Brest harbor, western France, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Gabart has broken the record for sailing around the world alone, circumnavigating the planet in just 42 days and 16 hours. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Associated Press) 
 
 BREST, France (AP) — French sailor Francois Gabart broken the record Sunday for sailing around the world alone, circumnavigating the planet in just 42 days and 16 hours. 
 
 That is more than six days faster than the last record, set by fellow Frenchman Thomas Coville last year. 
 
 The organizers, tracking his journey by satellite, tweeted that 34-year-old Gabart reached the finish line near Ouessant island off France's western coast on his trimaran called "Macif" before dawn Sunday. 
 
 Dozens of vessels swarmed around the victory vessel, accompanying Gabart as he waved torches. 
 
 Supporters waited to fete him in nearby Brest, a historic port city and sailing capital from where he departed Nov. 4 and where residents have been following his travels. 
 
 "It's a crazy pleasure ... all this human energy," Gabart said later. "I'm a solitary sailor but this is a pleasure." ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption François Gabart was welcomed back to France by a flotilla of local boats escorting him home 
 
 A French sailor has set a new world record for the fastest solo round-the-world navigation, beating the previous time by more than six days. 
 
 François Gabart finished his circuit of the globe early on Sunday, in a time of 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds. 
 
 He completed the journey non-stop, confined to his trimaran sailing yacht since 4 November. 
 
 Gabart broke the record set by his countryman Thomas Coville last year. 
 
 The record was held at one stage by British national Dame Ellen MacArthur. 
 
 Gabart's new record has yet to be verified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council, which will check the ship's GPS data before confirming the result. 
 
 Image copyright AFP Image caption Gabart celebrated aboard his trimaran as he reached port in Brest 
 
 He crossed the finish line near the western limit of the English Channel at about 01:45 GMT, before turning his ship homeward. 
 
 Capturing the drama just ahead of the finish, Gabart said in a video recorded in front of an on-board computer monitor: "The little blue bit is us, the red line is the finish. We should cross it any time now, the computer says 30 seconds." 
 
 Then he reported: "I've just crossed the finish line. It's pretty crazy. It's pretty unreal. I'm a bit overwhelmed. Just now I couldn't move I was at such a loss about what to do next. I'm in the dark. There are cargo ships and fishing boats around me. It's a pretty weird atmosphere and at the same time it's pretty extraordinary... 
 
 "I'm proud and happy to have made this pretty voyage around the planet." 
 
 As he arrived in the town of Brest in France's north-west several hours later, his yacht was escorted into port by a host of local boats in celebration of his accomplishment. 
 
 Gabart's success is partly down to good luck with weather, which can dramatically influence sailing speeds. 
 
 Image copyright AFP Image caption François Gabart spent 42 days alone on his ship 
 
 AFP news agency reports that, while chasing the global speed record, Gabart broke several others for solo racing, including the fastest navigation of the Pacific and the longest distance covered in 24 hours - 1,575km (851 miles). 
 
 But his 30m (98ft) boat was also custom-designed for the purpose, using the latest technology, and reached speeds of 35 knots (65km/h) during the journey, it said. 
 
 Gabart posted photos and video on social media frequently during his 42 days at sea, sharing his sunset views or his success at fishing with fans. 
 
 Well-known sailor Michel Desjoyeaux told the AFP news agency it was not surprising that Gabart had broken Coville's record. 
 
 "The one thing we can be sure of is that Francois has a faster boat than Thomas had and if they raced head-to-head then he would be faster," he said. "And he has spent a great deal of time on a multi-hull and is completely unafraid of high speeds."
– If it seems like just last year that a sailor beat the record for sailing around the world solo with a "mind blowing time," well, let us introduce you to the new record-holder: Frenchman Francois Gabart completed the feat on Sunday with a time of 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes, and 35 seconds, reports the BBC. If that doesn't exactly seem blazing, consider that he beat the previous record, set just last year by fellow Frenchman Thomas Coville, by more than six days, reports the AP. Gabart, 34, hit the finish line off France's western coast before dawn Sunday, where he was greeted by dozens of boats and supporters. "It's a crazy pleasure ... all this human energy," Gabart said. "I'm a solitary sailor, but this is a pleasure."