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Hoya Round The Island Record

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June 13th 2000 - 13.00 GMT

PlayStation Rounds the Isle in Style

Fossett 1st overall in the 2000 Hoya Round the Island Race

Cowes, Isle of Wight 10 June: American Skipper Steve Fossett and his international crew on the maxi-catamaran PlayStation completed the 64th Hoya Round the Island Yacht Race and a beautiful day of sailing today (Saturday 10 June) with a light-hearted, light winds victory. The 105 foot (32m) carbon fibre giant completed the 50 nm course in 5 hrs 45 mins 44 secs, some 48 minutes ahead of the next placed competitor, the trimaran Gleam, skippered by Robin Herbert.

PlayStation, already holder of the world record for distance covered in 24 hours under sail - 580.23 nm set in March, 1999 - recently arrived in the UK after a successful TransAtlantic crossing.

Skipper Steve Fossett:"We had a really enjoyable day out there. Of course, with light winds there was no chance for a record today, but we had a fine sail."

Watch Captain - and PlayStation co-designer Gino Morrelli:"The start (0630H) was fairly reasonable - we really didn't want a collision out there with over 200 boats in our section - 60 multi-hulls included - but everyone was well behaved and we got away OK. Winds were never over 16 kts - mostly 12-13kts -and we didn't really see high boat speeds - I don't think we hit 20 kts. "We did have an opportunity to get some good light air practice - especially in the run to the finish when the wind also picked up a bit and we had some good practice experimenting with different sail configurations."

PlayStation will continue ocean testing out of Southampton next week, waiting for a weather window in order to head back to the USA via Plymouth. There will then be a third attack on the 10 year old West to East (New York to the Lizard) TransAtlantic record, hopefully in July. Fossett hopes to bring PlayStation back to the Isle of Wight for Cowes Week in August, before fourth quarter 'round the world preparations recommence.

Crew List for Hoya Round the Island Race

Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper
Brian Thompson (GB) Watch Captain
Ben Wright (AUS) Watch Captain
Gino Morrelli (USA) Watch Captain
Mark Callahan (AUS) Crew
Nick Moloney (AUS) Crew
Peter Hogg (NZ) Crew
David Scully (USA) Crew
Bevan Jesson (NZ) Crew
Damien Foxall (IRL) Crew
Patrick Inskip (UK) Crew
Chris Deering (USA) Crew

June 8th 2000 - 19.00 GMT

PlayStation Enters Hoya Round the Island Race

Fossett Aims to Repeat Earlier Isle Triumphs

Mission Control, UK 7 June 2000 Following on from their recent fast, successful TransAtlantic crossing, Skipper Steve Fossett and the maxi-catamaran PlayStation have entered the 64th Hoya Round the Island Yacht Race on Saturday 10 June.

Fossett and his crew will cross the start line at Cowes at 0630 on Saturday morning attempting to beat a huge field and target the current course record of 3 hours 55 mins 28 secs, set in 1986 by trimaran Paragon. PlayStation, the world's fastest ocean sailing yacht, will be joined by 1,587 yachts of all shapes and sizes, carrying over 12,000 competitors, for the 50 nautical mile race anti clockwise around the Isle of Wight.

Fossett, who holds the independent round the Isle of Wight record - 3 hours 35 mins 38 secs set in 1994 on his trimaran Lakota - was looking forward to the race:
"We were first to finish this race on Lakota in 1993 and then broke the course record in 1994. On PlayStation we will certainly need to be very careful at the start as 200 boats will be setting off at the same time. Our inflatables are standing by until 5 minutes before the start to help out."

"Our objective is to finish first and maybe even break the race record, but we will need good winds."

PlayStation will then continue ocean testing, before heading back to the USA via Plymouth. There will then be a third attack on the elusive West to East TransAtlantic record later in the summer.

Crew List for Hoya Round the Island Race

Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper
Brian Thompson (GB) Watch Captain
Ben Wright (AUS) Watch Captain
Gino Morrelli (USA) Watch Captain
Mark Callahan (AUS) Crew
Nick Moloney (AUS) Crew
Peter Hogg (NZ) Crew
David Scully (USA) Crew
Bevan Jesson (NZ) Crew
Patrick Inskip (UK) Crew

 
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