As Francis Joyon’s and Thomas Coville’s big Nigel Irens-designed maxi catamarans take shape in France and Australia respectively, both being built for a crack next year at Ellen’s solo round the world record, a surprise third contender is underway for Polish sailor Roman Paszke.

Paszke, if you remember, was a skipper in The Race in 2000, when he raced what had been Bruno Peyron’s Commodore Explorer, unlyrically renamed Warta PolPharma. Paszke’s sailing history goes back to the 1973 Whitbread race but clearly his infatuation is with big multihulls. Following a deal with Swedish carbon composite builders Marstrom, a 90-footer is currently being built for a tilt at the solo record. On paper, at least, this looks like being the long shot.

All being well, we should see these three solo round the world multihull attempts next year, and there’s scope for another. Ellen’s trimaran, ex-B&Q/Castorama, is lying in Cowes, refitted and repainted, waiting hopefully for a buyer from her OC Group after two separate French buyers pulled out last year. If anyone fancies a go, Mark Turner says this is the cheapest way to get on to the grid next year.