Steve Fossett Challenges

Progressive History of the 24 Hour Record since 1852:

->390 n miles, May-1852, skipper Charles Low, vessel N.B. Palmer (USA) New York - San Francisco 16.3 kts

-> 421 n miles * , Mar-1853 skipper Lauchlan McKay, vessel Sovereign of the Seas (USA) NW of Cape Horn 17.5 kts

-> 438 n miles, Jan-1854, skipper Charles McDonnell, vessel Marco Polo (England) 18.3 kts

-> 462 n miles *, Dec-1854, skipper Alexander Newlands , vessel Champion of the Seas (England) England To Australia 19.3 kts

-> 482 n miles *, Aug-84, skipper Loic Caradec, vessel Royale II (France) Quebec - St. Malo Race 20.1 kts

-> 511.7 n miles, Aug-84, skipper Mike Birch, vessel Formule Tag (France) Quebec - St. Malo Race 21.6 kts

-> 520 n miles, 1987, skipper Philippe Poupon, vessel Fleury Michon VIII (France) NW Atlantic 21.7 kts

-> 522.73 n miles, Jun-90, skipper Serge Madec, vessel Jet Services 5 (France) NW Atlantic 21.8 kts

-> 524.6 n miles, Jan-94, skipper Olivier de Kersauson, vessel Lyonnaise Des Eaux (France) Atlantic - RTW Attempt 21.9 kts

-> 540 n miles, Jun-94, skipper Laurent Bourgnon, vessel Primagaz (France) N W Atlantic 22.5 kts

-> 547.3 n miles, Oct-94, skipper Bruno Peyron, vessel Explorer (France) N W Atlantic 22.8 kts

-> 580.23 n miles, Mar-99, skipper Steve Fossett, vessel PlayStation (USA) Auckland to Norfolk Is. 24.2 kts

-> 625.7 n miles, Jun-00, co-skippers G. Dalton & B Peyron, vessel Club Med (NZL/FRA) Atlantic-Discovery Route 26.1 kts

-> 655.13 n miles, Feb-01, skipper Grant Dalton, vessel Club Med (NZL/FRA) The RACE - Southern Ocean 27.3 kts

-> 687.17 n miles, Oct-01, skipper Steve Fossett, vessel PlayStation (USA) N W Atlantic - TransAtlantic record run 28.63 kts

-> 694.78 n miles, Jun-02, co-skippers Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid, Adrienne Cahalan, vessel Maiden 2 (UK) W Atlantic 28.95 kts

(* adjusted to 24 hrs)

Norfolk, Virginia, USA - 15th May 2003: After an uneventful 4-1/2 day delivery from Antigua, Skipper Steve Fossett and his crew aboard PlayStation arrived in Norfolk earlier this week.

Under the supervision of her permanent crew, the 125' (38.1m) maxi-cat is standing by awaiting weather opportunities for an attempt on the 24 Hour Record of sailing, currently held by the 110' (33.5m) catamaran Maiden 2, co-skippered by Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid and Adrienne Cahalan and a crew of 7(set 12-13 June 2002 at 694.78 nautical miles).

In fact, Steve Fossett and PlayStation have already twice captured this coveted WSSRC record - first in Feb 1999 with a distance of 580.23 nm and again in Oct 2001 at 687.17 nm.

Steve Fossett commented Wednesday pm - "We're now established at our USA base for the season - but there is no record pattern visible in the immediate forecast - not for the next 10 days, anyway."

24 Hour Record Attempt Abandoned

Wind Shift and Drop Finishes Record Attempt After 8 Hours
Fossett and Crew Returning To Base

Fossett and PlayStation Press The Start Button

24 Hour Record Attempt Begins At 1800 EDT / 2200 GMT Saturday Night

Fossett and Crew Target 24 Hour Record this Weekend

Steve Seeks to Hold Top Sailing Record For Third Time

PlayStation Now in Norfolk

USA Awaiting Weather for 24 Hour Sailing Record Attempt

No Record Pattern Visible for the Next 10 Days


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	24 Hour Record Attempt 24 Hour Record Attempt Abandoned Wind Shift and Drop Finishes Record Attempt After 8 Hours Fossett and Crew Returning To Base 1 June 2003 - 0620 0220 EDT / GMT:Skipper Steve Fossett reported this morning that the weather had won this one: "We are turning back.After a fast start, the winds shifted 15 degrees and dropped from 26 knots to 20 knots.This greatly slowed our progress and a 24 Hour Record is not feasible this time. For this record, everything must be right. We are turning south and bracing ourselves for a pasting by the storm front following closely behind us. It will take at least 2 days to get back to Norfolk Virginia." - Steve Fossett Click the map for The 24 Hour Attempt details. Fossett and PlayStation Press The Start Button 24 Hour Record Attempt Begins At 1800 EDT / 2200 GMT Saturday Night 1800 EDT / 2200 GMT 31 May 2003 - 200 miles northeast of Norfolk, VA, USA: With the wind blowing at just over 21 kts and coming from just west of south, skipper Steve Fossett and crew sailing aboard the 125 foot catamaran PlayStation began their attempt to regain the 24 Hour Record at 1800 EDT / 2200 GMT - heading eastwards across the Atlantic from a start point off the USA east coast. Earlier today, Steve commented on the weather he was looking for: " We've been waiting a month for the right weather. This is potentially the best system of the season - an intense low-pressure system with a fast-moving front, hopefully at up to 30-35 kts. There is, in fact, a fairly narrow band with the right wind. Too far ahead and the wind drops to 15 kts. Too far behind and we'll fall into the front. It is important we can stay just ahead of it - as the winds within the front could be up to 55 kts - and that would certainly stop us." Crew: Steve Fossett - Skipper David Scully - Watch Captain Nick Leggatt Paul Van Dyke Tom Weaver Mark Featherstone Sarah Lynch Tim McKegney Marion Goran The current record is 694.78 nautical miles, set in June 2002 by Maiden 2 (co-skippered by Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid and Adrienne Cahalan). Steve and PlayStation have twice held this record, firstly in February 1999 at 580.23 nm off New Zealand, and again at 687.17 nm, set during their successful TransAtlantic record of October, 2001. All of Steve Fossett's adventure challenges are supported by Michelob ULTRA, the new low-carbohydrate premium beer from Anheuser-Busch - the world's largest brewer. For all Steve Fossett's challenges and to follow progress throughout this record attempt, please see: www.fossettchallenge.com For additional information contact: Project 100 Communications/ Steve Fossett Challenges tel. +44 1727 836238 / 844616 mobile +44 7860 612367 e-mail p100sport@aol.com Fossett and Crew Target 24 Hour Record this Weekend Steve Seeks to Hold Top Sailing Record For Third Time Friday, 30 May 2003 - Norfolk, VA, USA (1420 GMT) - American skipper Steve Fossett and crew aboard the 125' maxi-cat PlayStation are planning an attempt to regain the 24 Hour Record in sailing, targeting the current mark of 694.78 nautical miles, set in June 2002 by Maiden 2 (co-skippered by Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid and Adrienne Cahalan). Steve and PlayStation have twice held this record, firstly in February 1999 at 580.23 nm off New Zealand, and again at 687.17 nm, set during the successful TransAtlantic record run of October, 2001. Steve wrote this morning: "We're going for it. The previously considered start on Friday was scrubbed in favor of Saturday, 31 May. We will start 200 miles northeast of our base in Norfolk on the northern edge of the Gulf Stream about 37N 72W. Winds should be SSW building from the 20 knot range to about 30 knots. We will choose our starting time when the wind speeds are sufficient, but before the seas build above 4 feet. Then we will sail ENE for 24 Hours. We plan to leave the dock at Bay Point Marina in Norfolk, Virginia at sunset tonight. Start time should be about noon on Saturday. The return trip to Norfolk or Newport will be upwind and will take at least 2 days." - Steve Crew: Steve Fossett, Skipper David Scully, Watch Captain Nick Leggatt Paul Van Dyke Tom Weaver Mark Featherstone Sarah Lynch Tim McKegney Marion Goran All of Steve Fossett's adventure challenges are supported by Michelob ULTRA, the new low-carbohydrate premium beer from Anheuser-Busch - the world's largest brewer. For additional information contact: Project 100 Communications/ Steve Fossett Challenges tel. +44 1727 836238 / 844616 mobile +44 7860 612367 e-mail p100sport@aol.com For all Steve Fossett's challenges and to follow progress, please see: www.fossettchallenge.com Progressive History of the 24 Hour Record since 1852: ->390 n miles, May-1852, skipper Charles Low, vessel N.B. Palmer (USA) New York - San Francisco 16.3 kts -> 421 n miles * , Mar-1853 skipper Lauchlan McKay, vessel Sovereign of the Seas (USA) NW of Cape Horn 17.5 kts -> 438 n miles, Jan-1854, skipper Charles McDonnell, vessel Marco Polo (England) 18.3 kts -> 462 n miles , Dec-1854, skipper Alexander Newlands , vessel Champion of the Seas (England) England To Australia 19.3 kts -> 482 n miles , Aug-84, skipper Loic Caradec, vessel Royale II (France) Quebec - St. Malo Race 20.1 kts -> 511.7 n miles, Aug-84, skipper Mike Birch, vessel Formule Tag (France) Quebec - St. Malo Race 21.6 kts -> 520 n miles, 1987, skipper Philippe Poupon, vessel Fleury Michon VIII (France) NW Atlantic 21.7 kts -> 522.73 n miles, Jun-90, skipper Serge Madec, vessel Jet Services 5 (France) NW Atlantic 21.8 kts -> 524.6 n miles, Jan-94, skipper Olivier de Kersauson, vessel Lyonnaise Des Eaux (France) Atlantic - RTW Attempt 21.9 kts -> 540 n miles, Jun-94, skipper Laurent Bourgnon, vessel Primagaz (France) N W Atlantic 22.5 kts -> 547.3 n miles, Oct-94, skipper Bruno Peyron, vessel Explorer (France) N W Atlantic 22.8 kts -> 580.23 n miles, Mar-99, skipper Steve Fossett, vessel PlayStation (USA) Auckland to Norfolk Is. 24.2 kts -> 625.7 n miles, Jun-00, co-skippers G. Dalton & B Peyron, vessel Club Med (NZL/FRA) Atlantic-Discovery Route 26.1 kts -> 655.13 n miles, Feb-01, skipper Grant Dalton, vessel Club Med (NZL/FRA) The RACE - Southern Ocean 27.3 kts -> 687.17 n miles, Oct-01, skipper Steve Fossett, vessel PlayStation (USA) N W Atlantic - TransAtlantic record run 28.63 kts -> 694.78 n miles, Jun-02, co-skippers Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid, Adrienne Cahalan, vessel Maiden 2 (UK) W Atlantic 28.95 kts (* adjusted to 24 hrs) PlayStation Now in Norfolk USA Awaiting Weather for 24 Hour Sailing Record Attempt No Record Pattern Visible for the Next 10 Days Norfolk, Virginia, USA - 15th May 2003: After an uneventful 4-1/2 day delivery from Antigua, Skipper Steve Fossett and his crew aboard PlayStation arrived in Norfolk earlier this week. Under the supervision of her permanent crew, the 125' (38.1m) maxi-cat is standing by awaiting weather opportunities for an attempt on the 24 Hour Record of sailing, currently held by the 110' (33.5m) catamaran Maiden 2, co-skippered by Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid and Adrienne Cahalan and a crew of 7(set 12-13 June 2002 at 694.78 nautical miles). In fact, Steve Fossett and PlayStation have already twice captured this coveted WSSRC record - first in Feb 1999 with a distance of 580.23 nm and again in Oct 2001 at 687.17 nm. Steve Fossett commented Wednesday pm - "We're now established at our USA base for the season - but there is no record pattern visible in the immediate forecast - not for the next 10 days, anyway."
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