Not this time. Marseille-Carthage: Strong run - No record .
Mobile
Mission Control, UK Sunday 5 May 2002 - 05:00GMT:
Steve Fossett and crew aboard his 125" (38m) Maxicat
completed a strong run on the Marseille-Carthage
TransMed course early Sunday morning - but fell about 2 hours short of Florence
Arthaud's 11 year old passage record (22hours 9min 56seconds).
"I guess you better describe this as our first attempt" Fossett phones in at 05:00GMT this morning. "We simply did not have the right wind directions."
"Now we better understand what is required, we'll return to La Ciotat fit the new Cuben mainsail and continue testing. Then well decide whether to have another go on the TransMed or move to Spain for the E-W TransAt (Cadiz - San Salvador) attempt later in May."
Steve Fossett and Crew Preparing For Weekend Record Attempt.
Mission
Control, UK Tuesday 2 May 2002 - 1600GMT:
Speed sailor Steve Fossett and team are standing
by for an attempt on the 11-year old Marseille-Carthage record - perhaps as
early as this weekend if weather forecasts hold. The 125' (38m) catamaran has
been based in the south of France since mid April, following her successful
new record on the Plymouth-La Rochelle passage April 9th.
Their target is Florence Arthaud's time of 22 hours, 9 minnutes and 56 seconds - currently the 5th fastest of the WSSRC recognised outright records, at an average speed of 20.66 knots (Pierre 1er, 1991).
Winds are forecast in the 35kt + range.
The crew of 14 will be:
Steve Fossett (USA)
Skipper
Dave
Scully (USA) Watch Captain
Gino Morelli (USA) Watch Captain
Pete Melvin (USA)
Pete Berry (GB)
Brad Cavanagh (USA)
Richard James (AU)
Dave Thompson (GB)
Quentin Dimmer (GB)
Simon Cotter (IRE)
Paul Van Dyke (USA)
Howard Hamlin (USA)
Trevor Baylis (CAN)
Mark Featherstone (GB)