New Round Britain & Ireland record for Playstation
by Fossett Challenges 25 Oct 2002 14:02 BST
New Round Britain and Ireland Sailing Record to Steve Fossett and Crew Aboard Maxi-Catamaran PlayStation
55 Minutes Faster Than Previous Record - New record: 4 Days 16 Hours 9 minutes 36 secs
Skipper Steve Fossett and his crew of 13 came flying through the mist off Ramsgate Harbour at 18 kts to cross the finish at the Royal Temple Yacht - setting a new round Britain and Ireland benchmark at 4 days 16 hours 9 mins 36 secs (pending ratification by the WSSRC) , some 55 minutes ahead of the old record set by Maiden II in September (4 days 17 hrs 4 mins 23 secs).
Their average speed for the 1787 nm course (the official distance recognised by the WSSRC - World Sailing Speed Record Council) is thus 15.93 kts.
Steve Fossett: "This is great - a big success - very hard won. We've worked hard all night!"
"We went out on a MAJOR weather system. Luc Trullemans' forecast and start decision were key. Every one of the boats targeting this record has been unable to sail fast all the way around - ourselves included. But we did pretty well, making up a big deficit over the past 24 hours."
PlayStation's entire record complement of 14 is:
- Steve Fossett (USA) Skipper / Watch Captain
- Chris Tibbs (England) Navigator
- David Scully (USA) Watch Captain
- Gino Morrelli (USA) Watch Captain
- Quentin Dimmer (Scotland) Crew
- Mitch Booth (Australia) Crew
- Mikaela (Miki) Von Koskull (Finland)
- Howie Hamlin (USA) Crew
- Simon Cotter (Eire) Crew
- Mark Featherstone (England) Crew
- Richard James (Australia) Crew
- Nick Leggatt (South Africa) Crew
- David Thomson (England) Crew
- Fraser Brown (NZ) Crew
Luc Trullemans (Belgium) is Chief Meteorologist working from his Brussels base.