December 10th 2001 - 16.00 GMT
Channel Record to Fossett
PlayStation's Fifth World Record of 2001
Cowes - St Malo in 6 h 21 m 44 s (21.69 knots average speed)
Cowes, Isle of Wight,
UK 10 December, 2001 1600 GMT
Steve
Fossett and his 125' maxi catamaran PlayStation capped a remarkable 2001 with
their fifth sailing world record of the year (Miami - New York, TransAtlantic,
24 hour, round the Isle Of Wight, Channel Record). Their time on the 138 mile
course - pending ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC)
- of 6 hours, 21 mins, 44 secs took 27 minutes of the previous record (6h 49m
19s) set by Tracy Edwards on Royal & Sun Alliance.
The decision to "give it a try" was made on Sunday night after Steve and crew returned from Saturday night's UNCL awards dinner in Paris.
On board were:
Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper
Chris Tibbs (UK) Navigator
Dave Scully (USA)
Shaun Biddulph (UK)
Pete Melvin (USA)
Peter Hogg (NZ)
Gino Morrelli (USA)
Helena Darvelid (SWE/UK)
Paul Van Dyke (USA)
Andy Elson (UK)
Brian Thompson (UK)
Nick Moloney (AUS)
Pete Berry (UK)
Steve Fossett: "The weather wasn't quite ideal. Especially at the start when we had a 10 kt NE wind that meant we were slow out of the Solent gybing 8 times. We only averaged 16 kts for the first hour and so spent the rest of the trip catching up to the record. But the mild sea state and average winds of 18 knots meant it worked out well in the end."
"We had a great and experienced crew, and nearly everyone on board had sailed on a previous PlayStation world record."
The crew of 13 included both of the boat's designers, Pete Melvin and Gino Morrelli, Sweden's Helena Darvelid (a crew member from Royal & Sun Alliance's record), navigator Chris Tibbs from Cowes and 2 new crew members, Scottish multi hull specialist, Pete Berry and Steve's former balloon colleague, Andy Elson. Also aboard were PlayStation veterans Brian Thompson and Nick Moloney plus TransAt/24 Hour record holders Dave Scully, Shaun Biddulph, Peter Hogg and Paul Van Dyke.
The 21.69 average speed means that Steve and PlayStation now hold the 3 fastest records in the WSSRC book (24 Hour record, The W-E TransAt, The Channel record). Unless somebody else breaks the Channel record before 31 December, they will also become the first holders of the new 'Channel Record Trophy'. This is awarded annually for the fastest Cowes-St Malo course.
For additional information, pictures, video etc please see www.fossettchallenge.com or contact Kate Edge / Stuart Radnofsky at Project 100 Communications Tel. +44 1727 836238 / 844616 Email p100sport@aol.com
For information on the Channel Record Trophy please contact Francois Seguin Windevent (tel +33 299 40 49 33 or email fs@windward.fr)
December 07th 2001 - 17.00 GMT
Code Red for Fastnet Course Record Attempt This Weekend
Other Options Open
Skipper Steve Fossett told his crew today that the weekend weather pattern for a Fastnet course record attempt had failed, but that a further attempt on the cross channel Cowes-St Malo record could be possible. In fact, nothing could be ruled out.
"Manic weather. The trough is failing to advance toward Ireland so the necessary wind shift to SW for us to sail back from Ireland is no longer in the forecast. Instead we have a meandering High whose shape changes easily."
"In fact we could get a proper wind direction (SE) for the Cowes-St Malo about Monday or so, but it is not meaningful to forecast exact winds this far in advance."
If all record weather patterns fail to materialise Steve proposes a test sail out of Southampton for the crew early in the week.
Further updates will be available shortly.
December 06th 2001 - 13.30 GMT
Fossett Fancies Fastnet
Code Green for Sunday Record Attempt
Mission Control,
UK 6 December 2001
Skipper Steve Fossett advised his crew today that they are Code Green for a
Sunday (9 December) departure on a Fastnet course record attempt.
Steve said "On this mornings forecast by Tom Mattus at Commanders Weather, the wind shift from SE to SW is delayed about a day. Departure is forecast for Sunday evening, to round Fastnet Rock at approx 18.00 GMT Monday. Timing could change again on tomorrow's forecast, but we plan to sail."
The official Fastnet course departs from Cowes (Isle of Wight), rounds the Fastnet Rock in the Irish Sea and finishes in Plymouth. The current record is held by Loick Peyron (France) sailing the 60 ft trimaran, Fujicolour II. He set a time of 40 hours 27 mins at an average speed of 14.96 knots for the 605 nm course in August 1999 during the traditional Fastnet race.
Further information on departure status will be available shortly