Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD 70 trimaran Phaedo3 has broken the course record of the Caribbean 600, setting a new time of 1 day, 9 hours, 35 minutes and bettering the line honours time by over six hours.The race was, “fast, really fast,” commented a shattered looking Thornburg as the big trimaran tied up in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua.

The line honours victory, though not surprising, is the perfect execution of a well-rehearsed, hush-hush assault on the race record. The boat they have nicknamed ’the Green Flash’, with her lime green and mirror silver livery, and piratical graphics, also cut a dash in the fleet and was a gift to spectators and photographers.

Thornburg has previously raced in the event successfully in his Gunboat 55 Phaedo, with crew including Britain’s multihull maestro Brian Thompson. The idea of buying an MOD70 trimaran was something he reportedly discussed with Thompson some time ago and the boat was sailed from Brittany in nine-and-a-half days in time to make the start.

Thornburg raced the trimaran, which has been nicknamed with a well-versed crew including Thompson, Michel Desjoyeaux, Roman Attanasio (Sam Davies’s other half), Pete Cumming and Sam Goodchild.

Thornburg’s ongoing plans for the new multihull include doing the Rolex Transatlantic Race in July and the Fastnet Race in August.