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The Columbus Route

click here for detailed .... | Progress and Tracking |


East - West TransAt Sailing Mark Falls As Fossett and PlayStation Take Over 24 Hours Off Previous Mark

Cadiz - Canaries - Bahamas in 9 days 13 hours 31 mins 18 secs

New E-W TransAtlantic World Record on 'Christopher Columbus Route' to go with W-E (NY-UK) record set in 2001

24 February 2003 - 13:35 GMT - San Salvador, Bahamas:

Skipper Steve Fossett (USA) and his crew of 12 aboard the maxi-catamaran PlayStation achieved more sailing history Monday morning as they broke the East - West TransAtlantic sailing record by over a day. They arrived at the island of San Salvador, the Bahamas following their 229-1/2 hour crossing from Cadiz, via the Canaries.

Sailing with extraordinary sustained speed (boat speed rarely dropped under 20 kts) in just a little over 9-1/2 days, Fossett and crew, following the same route as Columbus in 1492, averaged 16.93 kts over the official 3884 nautical mile record course*.

(*new world record - pending final confirmation by the WSSRC - World Sailing Speed Record Council - www.sailspeedrecords.com)

(Total distance sailed - with weather detour - was 4704 nm, an across-the-water- average of 20.5 kts.)

The 125' maxi-catamaran and her international crew have broken the previous East - West TransAt mark (10 days 14 hours 53 mins 44 secs), set by co-skippers Bruno Peyron (FR) and Grant Dalton (NZ) on the 110' cat Club Med in June, 2000, thus completing a matched set of Atlantic records for Fossett and PlayStation. (In October 2001 they set a new West-East Atlantic record, streaking from New York to the UK in 4 days, 17 hours, 28 minutes.)

Steve Fossett - aboard both PlayStation and the 60' trimaran Lakota now holds 10 of the 13 fastest outright ocean passage records recognized by the WSSRC.

Click image for a larger image of Steve.
free for press use.

Steve Fossett:

"This was just a great effort by an exceptionally strong team of sailors.

It was technically very challenging - we had to sail at maximum efficiency down-wind virtually the entire distance.

Our weather router Pierre Lasnier had us going far to the south of Club Med's course to avoid the Atlantic high- it was a 'very specific route' in winter - to keep in strong wind throughout the week. It certainly paid off, even if we did sail over 800 more miles across the water than the direct record course.

We had one 'all hands on deck' drama on Saturday afternoon when the mainsheet parted company - with a bang. Fortunately we were able to make a fast repair and only lost 30 minutes.

Right now I'm looking forward to a cold Michelob ULTRA and a nice hot shower."

Crew:

Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper/Watch Captain
Dave Scully (USA) Watch Captain
Pete Melvin (USA) Watch Captain
Brian Thompson (GB) Navigator
Peter Hogg (NZ) Crew
Mark Featherstone (GB) Crew
Dave Calvert (USA) Crew
Mikaela Von Koskull (Fin) Crew
Will Howden (GB) Crew
Tim Zimmermann (USA) Crew
Nick Legatt (ZA) Crew
Simon Fisher (GB) Crew
Dave Thomson (GB) Crew

(In addition to Steve Fossett - Dave Scully, Dave Calvert and Peter Hogg all were part of the October 2001 W-E TransAt record crew.)

October 2001 Photograph courtesy of Ian Richards Royal Navy / RNAS Culdrose < Large image free for Press Release>

PlayStation and crew will spend a few days of R & R on San Salvador before continuing their Caribbean adventure in St Maarten - where they plan to participate 'just for fun' in the March 6-8 regatta before heading to Antigua and then to Newport, Rhode Island for an (April-May) season aiming to win back (for a 3rd time) the 24 Hour Record of Sailing.

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 Challenges news, please see: www.fossettchallenge.com

For additional media information, please contact Nicola Horne or Stuart Radnofsky at:

Project 100 Communications / Steve Fossett Challenges
tel +44 1727 836238
fax +44 1727 869142
p100sport@aol.com

Finish In Sight - 9 miles off

24 February 2003 - 12:40 GMT

Navigator Brian Thompson: "This morning has probably been our slowest 1/2 day, as we have been getting closer to this cold front and low cloud that is killing the wind.

We are about 9 miles from the finish - and expect to be there in about 40-45 minutes (about 12:30 GMT)".

Bahamas Bound

Fossett and PlayStation Continue Strong Run - Aiming For Monday Morning Arrival

E-W TransAt Record 267 nm Away - Minding Their T's and C's

23 February 2003 - 20:00 GMT - Just south of the Turks and Caicos Islands
After eight days and twenty hours, and looking forward to what will be (hopefully) their last night at sea on this Cadiz-Canaries-Bahamas East - West TransAtlantic sailing record attempt, Steve Fossett and the crew of PlayStation spent Sunday racing through the Caribbean archipelago at over 20 kts, aiming to arrive at their Bahamian island destination of San Salvador sometime Monday morning.

Skipper Steve Steve Fossett:

"We are still making really good speed. We've been sailing in 20 kts of wind this afternoon - and keeping boatspeed above the windspeed as we sail deep angles downwind.

As of 20z tonight we had only 267 miles to go - and 2 days left to complete the course. Peter Hogg is making book on our arrival - Brian guesses around 10:00z Monday - but I'll just be happy with the record. - Steve"

Navigator Brian Thompson (writing at 15:00z):

"We are 100nm off Turks and Caicos Islands, on port gybe and just about scraping past them on this wind angle. Later we expect a further shift to the south to let us head straight for the finish. There is a chance we will have to make a short gybe to clear the Ts and Cs, but we hope not to.

Up ahead is a cold front almost sitting on San Salvador, and this will slow us down at the end, as the wind dies underneath this slow moving weather feature. We are already seeing a lot of squally clouds, so we may be seeing the sun for the last time this afternoon.

Our finish time hinges on what happens under this cold front - and when we reach it.
Waves are 1.5 to 2 m, giving us some good surfs - seeing high 20s boatspeed.

An interesting fact for all who have crossed the pond on this route: We sailed from the Canaries to the Caribbean in 6 days and 10 hours... This was to a point 150 nm N of the Virgin Islands, the equivalent distance to the crossing to Antigua. I am fairly certain no sailing vessel has done that trip faster! It is not in any way a verifiable record, but for those like me who did a 21 day crossing on my first trip, it is pretty amazing... Cheers - Brian"

So far Fossett's southern strategy has been effective, skirting the potentially becalming high, although the big cat (also the holder of the West-East NY-UK TransAt crown) will have covered more than 400 extra route miles in her search for wind.

Skipper Steve Fossett:

"We're heading the right way and can project our times better now - and a Sunday night or early Monday arrival seems quite possible.

We are working the boat down the waves, squeezing every ounce of leeway out of the following winds. We are close to the point at which we will start to move north, but we are still regarding the high as a potential threat to progress."

Watch Captain Dave Scully:

"It looks like a Sunday night arrival. Still two days away, but already the crew is scenting land. Columbus was charged with offering a prize, donated by the King, to the first of his sailors to spot the new world. He claimed it for himself, the rogue. After today we'll still have about a thousand miles to go, so it is a little early to reach for the bino's, but then we are traveling a bit faster than Columbus was.

T-shirts and shorts on deck, with a jacket at night. The discomfort factor is conspicuous by it's absence this trip. Record setting at it's finest!"

Navigator Brian Thompson:

"This nice weather is payback time - for the months spent swathed to the gills in soaking, cold foul weather gear."


Brian Thompson, Miki Von Koskull, Dave Thomson
on delivery from Plymouth-Cadiz

photo (c) Kirsten Scully 2003 - used with permission
(to buy hi-res versions for press use contact kirstenscully@telefonica.net)

Finally Aiming Towards Finish

Report From the Nav Station

20 February 2003 - 20:38 GMT - Steve Fossett's E-W TransAtlantic record attempt aboard the 125' maxi-catamaran PlayStation continued through its sixth day at sea Thursday, as he and his crew finally were able to start bringing the big cat a bit towards the north - and their target, the Bahamian island of San Salvador.

Navigator Brian Thompson, a veteran of numerous Fossett world records, described the past day's sailing:
"As of 12z today we had 1721 nm to go - a little more than 14kts av required for the record.

We are now 600nm south of Club Med's course - and starting to edge ahead of their actual positions (ed. - as opposed to a comparison to their average pace). At end day 5 we were about 30 nm behind, but at end of day 6 we should be ahead by over 100 nm.

Wind today is the lightest we have seen, 15kts now, but expect back to 20 kts by later tonight (ed. - by 22:00 TWS was 19 kts, by 23:00 it was 20 kts).

For the first time we are able to head consistently towards the finish; previously we have been having to gybe south to avoid the high pressure. These south gybes were not taking us towards San Salvador - but were necessary to avoid being becalmed.

Once we skirt the south side of the high, the next event is the arrival of a cold front from the west. We expect to finish before it - but if not, variable winds are likely for the last miles.

I am cautiously optimistic." - Brian Thompson

PlayStation Crewman Nick Leggatt Explains:

"The thought of an endless supply of steadily deteriorating limericks and yet more tuna pasta for dinner is spurring the crew to unheard of levels of enthusiasm for reaching port as soon as possible.

Attendance at the regular aerobics classes on the promenade deck, the site of the halyard winches, has recently increased as my fellow crew mates have seen the benefits of frequent gennaker changes reflected in a rapidly decreasing distance to the finish.

Mark the Magician has had to repeat his trick of turning salt water into fresh water as often as possible as we, thirsty for success, are now getting quite dehydrated in the tropical sun as we reef the main sail or gybe yet again to maximize VMG with every shift of the wind. Pete's Offshore Gambling Casino does a roaring trade with each gust of wind, as we try to guess our finishing time, but I suspect that his closesness to Brian, the navigator, means that he will end up winning the most beers." - Nick Leggatt

Dave Scully's wisdom on wind and weather:

"Basically, we are trying to get where we are going.

Pierre (Lasnier) thinks we can begin to take a more northerly route - a little closer to the centre of the high - the question is can we hang on to the wind and cut the corner of the high?

Jibing south has become a frustrating feature of the last few days. As the high pressure to the north shifts and expands, we are constantly forced to run south in search of wind. This low loop around the high has added almost 500 nm to our route. The pressure is on the drivers and trimmers to get every yard of velocity made good out of the following breeze.

The weather is beautiful, 25 degrees C (77 F in old money), and now we've stopped going south (again) and are making some westing. We are still optimistic for this record."

19th February 2003 - 23:30 GMT - Maxi-catamaran PlayStation:"In boating, as in many things, I suspect, when you start off badly, things get worse. That was yesterday. We had been waiting for a patch of light air to drop the main and replace the top batten, broken in a jibe earlier. This is a straightforward, but difficult and exhausting job, and a bit risky, as dropping the main downwind exposes the rest of the battens to uncommon stress.

We dragged the sail down, and assisted by Dave Thomson, got the new batten in. A stellar effort by the whole crew dragged the ton of sailcloth back up the mast, against the resistance of the following wind, and the friction of the lazy jacks. Then we set the blast. It did not unfurl properly, and the whole thing had to come down, be yarned into a tight tube, and rehoisted. Finally, as the sun was rising, we were able to furl the solent, trim the blast, and get up to speed again. An hour and a half of hard labor, going slow, and, as we were on a jibe south at the time, sailing away from the finish.

The limerick war is raging. Nic Leggatt fired the opening salvo, and the galley walls are rapidly being papered with complex verses employing this under-rated poetic discipline. Nic has a birthday on the 24th, and has expressed a desire to celebrate it on San Salvador. Us too!" - Reporting by David Scully

19 February 2003 - 00.30 GMT 940 nm west of Banc D'Arguin, Mauritania: Finally traveling (mostly) west along the 21st, 20th and 19th parallels throughout yesterday, Steve Fossett and his crew of 12 aboard the 125' catamaran PlayStation made more good progress across the Atlantic.

Simon Fisher	Nick Leggat, David Scully, Dave Thomson	David Scully, Crew
photo (c) Kirsten Scully 2003 - used with permission (to buy hi-res versions for press use contact kirstenscully@telefonica.net)

With winds at 15-25 kts primarily from the NE they continued towards the Americas - averaging 17.25 kts for Tuesday, their 4th day at sea. Their target is the E-W TransAtlantic sailing record (Cadiz-Canaries-Bahamas) of 10 days, 14 hours 54 mins 43 secs - the Christopher Columbus Route.

In order to avoid the light winds attached to a high pressure system, their course has taken them over 650 miles south of that taken by Bruno Peyron and Grant Dalton when the Frenchman and the New Zealander co-skippered the 110' Club Med in June of 2000, setting the existing record. (For a graphic comparison of these routes please see 'Position: PlayStation' map under 'Tracking' on the home page or click on the Columbus Route map.)

With Tuesday morning being interrupted by variable winds, with several sail changes plus replacement of some mainsail battens in the afternoon, PlayStation's progress yesterday was good, making 414 miles in the 24 hours midnight Monday - midnight Tuesday.

To break Club Med's existing record, Steve and crew will need to reach Columbus' landfall - the island of San Salvador - by Tuesday at 14.44.24 GMT - an average of 14.66 kts for their remaining 2330 miles to destination.

Our thanks to Bruno Peyon (and the offices at The RACE 2 Headquarters and Mer & Media) for sportingly providing route details on Club Med's June 2000 E-W TransAt record (co-skippered by Bruno Peyron and Grant Dalton) - so we can compare our progress.

The RACE 2 - the second running of the no-limits, fully-crewed, non-stop 'round the world dash for the world's fastest sailboats - starts 29 February 2004 from Marseille.

18 February 2003 - 10:20 GMT - Skipper Steve Fossett:

"Tough morning. First the wind got light and we switched from our medium to big gennaker. This is our most difficult sail change because the gennakers must be hoisted instead of just unfurled like the jibs. There was still no relief from the light winds so we decided to gybe south. But first we needed to replace the top batten which was broken in the previous gybe. That involves taking the mainsail all the way down, refitting the batten then hoisting the main the full 148 feet up the mast.

photo (c) Kirsten Scully 2003 - used with permission
(to buy hi-res versions for press use contact kirstenscully@telefonica.net)

After all that, the winds got stronger and we had to switch back to the medium gennaker. All told it was 4 hours hard work by the full crew. It's when the going gets tough that a top flight crew really shows their stuff. They did.

There was a lot of lost time and going south makes little distance toward the finish. By contrast on their fourth day, Club Med made a then 24 hour record of 625 miles.

We like our position, though, being farther south solidly in the Trade Winds.

- Steve Fossett"

photo (c) Kirsten Scully 2003 - used with permission
(to buy hi-res versions for press use contact kirstenscully@telefonica.net)

Watch Captain David Scully Reviews Dinner and the Weather

Tuesday 18 February 2003 - 00:10GMT : "Just finished excellent dinner, vitello tonnato con rotini, cafe et biscuits, and we are settling in for another night of fast reaching.
Squalls are becoming a feature of the landscape, and out of respect for these phenomenae, we are thundering into the night with our little genaker flying, not the big fellow.

It is a rule of thumb in racing that the weather always gets worse, but in this event, that rule seems to be following the example of our navigator, who has a broken thumb. Thus the adage, 'rules of thumb are made to be broken'.

In any case, what I am trying to say is that the forecasts are actually getting better. We are riding a great jibe angle to the west, and Pierre's view of the future is as rosy as a tropical sunset. G.O.'s prepare!! - David Scully"

"We've made a full gybe and are now heading westward across the Atlantic - in the trade winds at last.

We're staying far south to avoid the light winds associated with high pressure, and Pierre Lasnier says the forecast is very good with winds behind us for the next 4 days or so - he won't commit beyond that."

10:07 GMT 17 February 2003: In a short report received from PlayStation navigator Brian Thompson on Monday morning:

"All well here, we are 280nm south of great circle course since rounding Gran Canaria 24hrs ago. Have to get south on port gybe to stay out of light winds of the high, plan is to go to near 22n then gybe to west again this aftn.

Had a point to point day's run of 480nm, but 392 towards the finish. At end of day 2 we had avgd 17.58, requiring us to do 14.58 to finish to tie record.

Wind remains mainly over 20k which is exclt. - Brian Thompson"

Reports From The Boat --16 February 2003 - Having successfully passed through the Canaries this afternoon (a little faster than one C. Columbus - who actually stopped for a month in 1492 for repairs and resupply before pressing on westward), the mood was upbeat aboard the maxi-catamaran PlayStation as she continued strongly towards the Bahamas.

Skipper Steve Fossett relayed his (typically brief) comments by phone Sunday afternoon:

"We're going well. We've lost some time going south, but we are still looking good. Our focus is on making this a good record attempt, so we're not pressing for super high-mileage days. We're taking a consistent approach - and aiming not to make any mistakes.

The crew are sailing really well as a team. They've got the experience - with only 3 guys (Tim Zimmermann, Simon Fisher, Will Howden) not having sailed with us on previous world-records. Still on a good pace to reach San Salvador for this record."

Watch captain Dave Scully once again expanded upon Sunday's events:

"Today's highlight was sliding by the Canary Islands. The lights of Lanzarote had been visible for most of last night, and by mid-morning we were entering the passage between Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. Fuerteventura means 'strong wind' in Spanish, I am told, and they are not talking about digestive disturbances.

The following breeze gathered meters per second as we passed between the two islands. We had reefed down in anticipation, but found that the blast reacher was too much, and replaced it with the solent. The meter was reading in the high forties, and the implacable Pete Melvin, at the helm, spurned suggestions of further sail reduction, and pushed the knotmeter to it's highest level this trip - at about 35 kts.

The crew took adavntage of the nearby coast to whip out their cell phones and place hurried calls to wives, friends, and...bookies??

Yes, shameful to relate, Pete Hogg's unfortunate heritage compels him to put his money where his mouth is when New Zealand is competing. Your humble correspondent is now 100 Caribbean dollars richer this evening as a result of the black boat failing to win Race two... Meanwhile, as night overtakes us for the second time this trip, we are jibing on shifts in the trades, heading south and west by turns. - David"

Aiming For America

Navigator Brian Thompson Reports Upon Rounding Gran Canaria:

16 February 2003 - 12:25 GMT - Gran Canaria -

"We have now rounded cans, and on port gybe heading south to avoid the wind shadow of Gran Canaria - the wind reached a steady 44 knots in the funnelling effect of the islands (up from 22knots before)!.

We got to within 2.5 miles of the island before gybing away from its the calms. We are now under one reef and solent and the wind is starting to drop towards 30, so soon we will have the reacher up again.

Strategy for the TransAtlantic awaiting us is simple - to maximise our VMG (Velocity Made Good) downwind, to get south, to gybe on the windshifts - and not to break anything!.

Due to the high pressure covering the great circle route to San Salvador, we will have to sail well south, down to 20N at times, according to the predictions of our weather router Pierre Lasnier.

This will put us almost 500 miles south of the rhumb line. Interestingly Club Med - who did this record in June (2000) when the High is further north - was 100 miles north of the rhumbline at one point..

We are looking at their daily positions and the average speed we need to stay ahead of the record. As we rounded Gran Canaria we had averaged 20.73 since the start, ahead of the 15.2 required.

We had a good run to the Canaries overall, a little too slow at first, but then we gained in the 2nd half when the wind held in the north, allowing us to aim at the island on starboard gybe. The next section will not allow us to be always heading at the mark, so keeping our current average will be difficult.

The key is to stay in the wind, even if we have to sail more miles. - Brian"

Fossett and PlayStation Rock

On Strong Night's Sailing Under A Full Moon

Sunday, 16 February 2003: By 0800z this morning, with average speed for the first 32 hours reaching 20.5 kts, Steve Fossett's 125' (38m) maxi-catamaran PlayStation approached her turning in the Canaries.

Once again, watch captain Dave Scully (USA) confidently took charge of the adjectives to file the following report of the past day's progress:

"Can't complain about the weather! Or the food. Saturday lunch was a couscous salad, with an assiete charcutiere, And after an afternoon of fast driving and lounging around, we sat down to a splendid pot of thun avec du ris valencienne, followed of course by le Kit Kat bar, café filtré, thé anglais, or un tisane de fruits.

By the time coffee was finished, the full moon was glowing over the darkly sparkling water, and steering the tight groove required by the big genaker proved too much for our digestion. We backed off to the blast reacher, and rocketed on through the night. Naviguesser Brian says we are averaging almost 20 knots now, which is a lot more than Club Med's trip average, so that is allright, too.

We just plonked in a reef, in anticipation of some more wind between a couple of Canary Islands we have to go between. Then we plan to execute a faultless jibe, and turn right to get to America. Did I mention that porridge was served at breakfast? - David Scully aboard PlayStation"

Rolling Towards Lanzarote

Fossett and PlayStation Making Good Progress 18 Hours Into E-W TransAt Attempt

13th Crewman Announced - Dave Thomson

15 February 2003 - 1850 gmt, After 18 hours and with a steady wind of 20 kts from the N-NE throughout the day, the 13 person crew aboard the 125' maxi-catamaran PlayStation continued to make good progress, averaging over 18 kts since their midnight (gmt) departure from Cadiz.

Watch Captain Dave Scully took his turn at the keyboard to describe today's run:

"More of the same - rolling towards Lanzarote under the big genaker. Seas are more regular now, and we are making better speed avarages - with less risk to this vital sail. All aboard very happy to be on record pace, and srtipping off more clothes with every change of watch. Skies are partially covered with cu cloud, but it look like the night will bring more pleasant sailing at record pace. - Yr local correspondent, DS"

Please note an important correction to yesterday's crew announcement: Including Skipper Steve Fossett, the full complement for this E-W TransAtlantic record attempt is THIRTEEN - last night we inadvertantly omitted to mention crewman Dave Thomson, pride of Gosport, Hampshire, Great Britain - and a veteran of Steve Fossett's successful Round Britain and Ireland record in October of 2002.

Dave had been on the E-W TransAt 'wish list' - but wasn't sure he could make it to Cadiz for the start - but he made it with minutes to spare... (but just missed yesterday's press release - sorry Dave).

So here is PlayStation's Complete E-W TransAt Crew List:

Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper/Watch Captain
Dave Scully (USA) Watch Captain
Pete Melvin (USA) Watch Captain
Brian Thompson (GB) Navigator
Peter Hogg (NZ) Crew
Mark Featherstone (GB) Crew
Dave Calvert (USA) Crew
Mikaela Von Koskull (Fin) Crew
Will Howden (GB) Crew
Tim Zimmermann (USA) Crew
Nick Legatt (ZA) Crew
Simon Fisher (GB) Crew
Dave Thomson (GB) Crew

Saturday Breakfast News From The Boat

From the boat - received at 15 February (Saturday) 0852 gmt:

"Delicate start, tiptoe-ing out of the Bay of Cadiz at one am. The same time as most of the locals are going to the bars, we are going to America. Big moon and big genaker, and as the night passes into early morning, the ugly cross sea precipitates a change to the blast. Now, in a beautiful pink dawn, the big genaker is again pulling us confidently south.

Nothing special in this wind. We are barely ahead of record pace, but having just finished a scrambled egg and sausage fry up, prepared fresh by Mikke, I am filled with confidence, and looking forwsard to the days ahead."

Stay Tuned.

Fossett Confirms Planned Friday Night Start from Cadiz

'Christopher Columbus Route' E-W TransAt Crew Set

Thursday, 13 February 2003 - Cadiz, Spain - 1630 gmt: Advising that the wind forecast for a Friday night departure remains stable, Skipper Steve Fossett left the USA for Cadiz on Thursday afternoon. Planned departure from the dock at Puerto Sherry Marina will be late Friday afternoon
- with an anticipated crossing of the start line at around midnight.

The international crew of twelve for the 125' (38m) catamaran will comprise:

Steve Fossett (USA)	Skipper/Watch Captain
Dave Scully (USA)	Watch Captain
Pete Melvin (USA)	Watch Captain
Brian Thompson (GB)	Navigator
Peter Hogg (NZ)	Crew
Mark Featherstone (GB)	Crew
Dave Calvert (USA)	Crew
Miki Von Koskull (Fin)	Crew
Will Howden (GB)	Crew
Tim Zimmermann (USA)	Crew
Nick Legatt (ZA)	Crew
Simon Fisher (GB)	Crew

Fossett and Team 'Code Green' for E-W TransAt Departure Friday Midnight

Cadiz-Canaries-Bahamas - The 'Christopher Columbus Route' Sailing Record Attempt

Steve advises crew to come to Cadiz: "Let's go"

12 February 2003 - Cadiz, Spain - 1300 gmt: In a short e-mail this afternoon to overseas crew and key team personnel, skipper Steve Fossett has declared 'Code Green' for a Friday night start on the East-West TransAtlantic sailing record attempt..

The 125' (38m) maxi-catamaran PlayStation and crew have been standing by for almost 2 weeks near the Cadiz start- line for an attempt on the current record of Grant Dalton (NZ) and Bruno Peyron (FRA) on Club Med - set at
10d 14h 53m 44s in June 2000.

"I have considered the forecast of Pierre Lasnier and the advice of team members who have reviewed the winds and I have decided we should go on this weather window. The goal is to reach the Gran Canaria turnpoint in less than 36 hours and reach W 043 30 in four days.This would give us sufficient time to struggle with lighter winds in the last third of the course and still break the record of 10 days 15 hours.

Projected start time across the line at Puerto Sherry in Cadiz is midnight Friday night, or 00z 15 February. - Steve"

Project 100 Communications/ Steve Fossett Challenges
tel. +44 1727 836238 / 844616
mobile +44 7860 612367
www.fossettchallenge.com

Fossett and Team Prepare for 'Christopher Columbus Route' East - West TransAtlantic Record Attempt.

Cadiz - Canaries - Bahamas

2 February 2003 Cadiz, Spain: Arriving at their Andalucian base of Puerto Sherry several days ago, American skipper Steve Fossett's 125' (38m) maxi-catamaran PlayStation is getting ready for an attempt on the 'Christopher Columbus Route' - the East - West TransAtlantic Record. Also known as the 'Route of Discovery' and the 'Trade Winds Route' , this record would complement Steve and crew's historic West-East (NY - UK) TransAt speed mark of 4d 17h 28m 6s set in October 2001.

Their target for the Cadiz - Canaries - Bahamas course (officially registered as 3,884.83 nm by the WSSRC - World Sailing Speed Records Council - see http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/ratified.html) is not the legendary Admiral's 10 week voyage of 1492, but a rather more recent record - the excellent current mark of 10d 14h 53m 44s set in June 2000 by the 110' maxi-cat Club Med, co-skippered by Grant Dalton (NZ) and Bruno Peyron (FRA).

As always on a record attempt, Steve and his international crew of 12-14 will be looking for a powerful weather system to launch them towards the Canaries and onwards across the Atlantic.

Yesterday, Steve described the decision process for when to summon the rest of the international crew to Cadiz:

"After considering an initial forecast for an 1800GMT departure February 3, we have decided to hold out for a better opportunity. The February 3 situation was a little light on wind strength and required gybing to get to Gran Canaria. We want to be able to lay the Canaries with decent wind so we have time to struggle through the last half of the route as is usually required."

For additional information and tracking, see www.fossettchallenge.com

Press information: Contact Nicola Horne or Stuart Radnofsky at Project 100 Communications / Steve Fossett Challenges +44 1727 836238 or e-mail p100sport@aol.com