Steve Fossett Challenges | New TransMed Record

New TransMed Record

Sailing the Mistral - Marseille-Carthage in Under 19 Hours
New TransMed Record for Fossett and Crew Aboard 125' Maxicat

Friday, 24 May 2002, 13.00 GMT Mission Control UK:
American skipper Steve Fossett proved once again that tenacity pays, setting a new TransMed record on the second attempt.

He and his crew of 12 aboard the maxicatamaran PlayStation knocked off another speed sailing milestone this morning, capturing Florence Arthaud's 11 year old (set in August 1991 on the 60' trimaran Pierre 1er) TransMediterranean (Marseille-Carthage) sailing record. A previous attempt by Steve and crew (May 4-5) fell 2 hours short. But a new weather opportunity to 'sail the Mistral' emerged earlier this week - and Steve quickly put out the call to his crew of 12 to reach La Ciotat Thursday (they crossed the start line at 14:58:46 GMT).

Steve Fossett: "We finished at 09:45 GMT this morning for a time of 18h 46m 55s - an average speed of 24.38 kts. The previous record by Florence Arthaud was 22h 9m 56s for average of 20.66 kts."

Pending ratification by the WSSRC, Steve (sailing on both Lakota and PlayStation) will now hold 9 of the 10 fastest "outright" world records of sailing - including the 6 fastest - plus the 24 Hour Record. The new Marseille-Carthage mark will become the second fastest in the book - after PlayStation's extraordinary October 2001 4-1/2 day TransAt mark of 25.78 kts.

Steve Fossett: "It was extraordinary sailing - and a hard working trip - with 25 sail changes. Everyone did a great job - and our two newest crew members Howie Hamlin and Trevor Baylis - who are current world champions in 18' Skiffs - proved to be hot sailors."

The TransMed record crew:
Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper & Watch Captain
Chris Tibbs (GB) Navigator
Dave Scully (USA) Watch Captain
Trevor Baylis (CAN) Watch Captain
Quentin Dimmer (GB) Crew
Pete Berry (GB) Crew
Brad Cavanagh (USA) Crew
Richard James (AU) Crew
Dave Thompson (GB) Crew
Simon Cotter (IRE) Crew
Claire Bailey (GB) Crew
Howie Hamlin (USA) Crew
Mark Featherstone (GB) Crew

For additional informationand photos please see www.fossettchallenge.com or contact Nicola Horne / Stuart Radnofsky at Steve Fossett Ocean Challenge on Tel. +44 1727 836238 / 844616 Email p100sport@aol.com

Steve¹s next challenge is also wind driven but half a world away. In mid-June he will make a further attempt to achieve the elusive ŒFirst Solo¹ Round the World Balloon Flight aboard his new "BUD LIGHT SPIRIT OF FREEDOM" balloon, launching from Northam, Western Australia - and sponsored by American brewer Anheuser-Busch's BUD LIGHT brand. See www.BudLight.com and www.SpiritOfFreedom.com for further details!

24 May 2002: New TransMed Record

18 hours 46min 55sec - 24.38 knots average
Fossett and Crew takes 3 hours off Marseille - Carthage Record

Friday, 24 May 2002, 10.30 GMT Mission Control UK:
A typically brief and to the point report just received from Steve Fossett by phone as the 125' ft catamaran and crew of 13 reached North Africa:

"We did it - 18 hours 46min 55sec for an average speed of 24.38 knots. It went extraordinarily well - we'll send some quotes and comments on an email shortly - bye."

Project 100 / Steve Fossett Ocean Challenge tel. +44 1727 836238 / 844616 www.fossettchallenge.com

NEWS FLASH!

News Flash - TransMed Record Attempt Begins at 14:58:46 GMT

Thursday, 23 May 2002, 16.00 GMT Mission Control UK:
Thursday, 23 May 2002, 1645 GMT Mission Control UK: Steve Fossett and crew crossed the start line this afternoon at 14:58:46 GMT, targeting the 11-year old TransMed (Marseille-Carthage) record. They crossed the line approximately 1 hour after Giovanni Soldini's 60' trimaran 'TIM'.

Steve Fossett has just sent in a short status update: "Start time was 14:58:46 UTC - Giovanni Soldini started earlier - perhaps an hour before us. We have taken a necessary gybe to get more east on the course, so we are a little behind the necessary average speed of 20.66 knots to break Florence Arthaud's record from August 1991."

(Photos courtesy of Gilles Martin-Raget - for high-resolution photos please contact via e-mail: gmr@martin-raget.com)

May 23th 2002 - 10.49 GMT

Steve Fossett and team preparing for possible Marseille - Carthage record attempt today

Mission Control, UK, Thursday May 23rd 2002 - 10:49 GMT:
Later this afternoon, Steve Fossett and crew are expected to make their second attempt on Florence Arthaud¹s 1991 record on the 458 nm Marseille Carthage TransMed course.

The 125" (38m) maxicat completed a strong run on this course on May 5th, but fell 2 hours short of the record as wind directions shifted unexpectedly. Now with a better understanding of what is required, Fossett and crew will once again attempt to break the record.

Watch Captain David Scully commented last night:

"It's not a great pattern, but it might get us the record. Winds are forecast starting at 20-25 knots, building to 35 knots - with a shift to the west, then dropping from 20-25 knots from Sardinia to the finish. We¹ll need three gybes.

We learned a few things last time and if we have a similar opportunity to what we had then, then we might get it this time."

Pierre 1er`s 1991 record of 22hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds, at an average speed of 20.66 knots is now one of the most durable in the WSSRC book. It is also currently the 5th fastest of the WSSRC recognised outright records.

The crew will be:
Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper & Watch Captain
Chris Tibbs (GB) Navigator
Dave Scully (USA) Watch Captain
Trevor Baylis (CAN) Watch Captain
Quentin Dimmer (GB) Crew
Pete Berry (GB) Crew
Brad Cavanagh (USA) Crew
Richard James (AU) Crew
Dave Thompson (GB) Crew
Simon Cotter (IRE) Crew
Claire Bailey (GB) Crew
Howie Hamlin (USA) Crew
Mark Featherstone (GB) Crew `