AMERICAN maxi Zephyrus IV smashed the record for the Cape to Rio transatlantic race by almost two days when it crossed the finish line at Rio de Janeiro on Friday, the organisers said. The 75-foot Californian yacht crossed the finish line off Copacabana Beach at 3:49am. She improved the 1996 record of 14 days 15 hours by 1 day 22 hours, and her official crossing time was 12 days 16 hours and 49 minutes. Another American maxi, Sagamore, is expected to cross the line later on Friday, and is also on course to break the previous record.
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