In a remarkable display of determination and skill, yacht designer Dan Lenard has achieved a new Guinness World Record for the greatest distance sailed solo on an Olympic-class Laser ILCA 7. Following an earlier attempt in June, Lenard finally secured the title – pending official certification – by covering 321.5 miles alone on the Adriatic Sea.

His journey began on August 12 at 13:00 from D‑Marin Dalmazia in Croatia. With no external support and never dropping anchor, Lenard completed the voyage on August 19.

The Extreme Laser Challenge

This wasn’t Lenard’s first attempt; weather forced him to abort his June trial. “The main obstacle in such adventures is the weather – he explained to Daily Nautica – likening the unpredictable conditions to mountain climbing – sometimes nature just wins“. 

This most recent attempt succeeded thanks to rigorous preparation and sheer resolve. “This feat – he said right after finishing – contained three great unpredictable challenges: physical endurance – because living in a Laser is extreme – wind, and weather. It’s tough when there’s too little wind, and it’s just as tough when there’s too much”.

Despite the physical toll, Lenard’s body held up. Lenard, who sent us an exclusive video while he was still sailing, slept on board, setting an alarm every 30 minutes to check course and wind. His average speed was just 2.2 knots, slowed by calm days that prevented him from reaching his 500-mile target – a goal he intends to try for in the future.

A Record for Sustainability

This voyage also carried an environmental message. As part of Vela Code, a foundation founded by Lenard to encourage eco-friendly sailing, the journey was plastic-free: no single-use plastic texturing, only glass bottles and sealed energy-bar containers aboard.

“It might be the achievement I’m proudest of, – Lenard noted after his first attempt – I’ve shown you can sail without producing plastic waste in a 4.23 m boat. If I can do it, anyone in larger vessels can too”.

Vela Code, he adds, “isn’t just an initiative – it’s a call to conscience” beginning at sea and radiating out to the whole nautical community, from yards to shipowners.

Micro-Yachting and the Adventure Spirit

Lenard describes his journey as a form of primordial yachting. “Surviving on board  – he says – I turned into micro-yachting. I transformed simulated survival into an experience, and I consider it a success.” It’s not just about endurance, but the pure joy of being on the water. It’s a return to yachting’s roots: sea, wind, sky, and little else 

With his 321.5-mile solo record on an ILCA 7, Dan Lenard has not only rewritten a chapter in sailing history but has also charted a new course where sporting challenge and sustainability go hand in hand. And what’s next? His sights are set on 500 miles.