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Fossett back in the record books

PlayStation: Second time lucky

LONDON, England -- American skipper Steve Fossett has broken the TransMed sailing record from Marseille to Carthage on his second attempt.

Fossett and his crew of 12 aboard the 38-metre (125-foot) maxi catamaran PlayStation beat the 11-year-old record of Florence Arthaud set in August 1991 on the 18-metre (60-foot) trimaran Pierre 1er by nearly four hours.

The 458-nautical mile TransMed record is the most significant sailing record in the Mediterranean.

In an earlier attempt on May 4 and 5, Fossett was just two hours short. But a new weather opportunity emerged with a Mistral wind forecast and so Fossett set off again on Thursday.

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The American said he finished at 09:45 on Friday in18 hours 46 minutes and 55 seconds -- an average speed of 24.38 knots. Arthaud took 22 hours 9 minutes and 56 seconds at an average of 20.66 knots.

Italian Giovanni Soldini on the 18-metre (60-foot) trimaran TIM was attempting the record at the same time but was forced to retire in the night with structural problems to his forward crossbeam.

Pending ratification by the World Speed Sailing Council, the new TransMed record means that Fossett will now hold nine of the 10 fastest "outright" world sailing records plus the 24-hour record.

Fossett: Now for the solo balloon challenge

The new Marseille to Carthage record will become the second fastest in the record book after PlayStation's four and a half day crossing of the Atlantic at an average of 25.78 knots in October 2001.

Fossett added: "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."

Fosset's next challenge is in the air. In mid-June he will make another attempt to achieve the elusive solo round-the-world balloon flight on his new Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon, launching from Northam, Western Australia.