Here's something interesting — and it's NOT about Trump or Elon!

How global warming is likely to drive certain sailing records higher and higher.

The Vendée Globe is a single-handed (solo) non-stop, unassisted round-the-world yacht race that is contended every four years, in the world’s most dangerous southern oceans. Forty men and women from all around the world compete each time. Most of them don’t complete the race. The boats must conform to the Open 60 design rule: a 60-foot waterline and a few other constraints. Since the first event in 1989-1990, the winning time has decreased from 109 days to 64 days. One person has to pilot the boat non-stop for that entire time. It is an insane test of skipper and equipment. Pictured is Frenchman Charlie Dalin aboard the foiling Macif Santé Prévoyance, who won the 2024-2025 edition in 64 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes.

Not only did Dalin beat the previous record of 80 days by 9 days; the top 11 finishers all beat the previous record. And no, the boats are not so much improved that that could account for such unprecedented speeds across the whole fleet. Why did it happen? Climatology has the answer, and it will likely guide the navigational choices of all future skippers.