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Fossett struggles to beat record
RAMSGATE, England -- American adventurer Steve Fossett is struggling to regain his record for circumnavigating the British Isles after being becalmed overnight. After building up a comfortable cushion of nine hours over the Maiden 2 record time set in September, Fossett reported on Thursday his 38m (125ft) maxi-catamaran PlayStation is two hours behind the record pace. PlayStation now needs to average 17 knots to break the record, well within the giant catamarans capability, but not without favourable winds. "I remember so well a couple months ago Orange (skippered by Bruno Peyron) ran out of wind only just short of the finish line. "If the new Low arrives, we'll be fine -- if it doesn't, we're not going to get this record back this time," Fossett said. He had held the record for the 1,796-mile course since 1994. Fossett and his 14 crew have averaged 15.56 knots on the 1,787-mile course since the start, leaving a target speed of 17.05 knots for the remaining 300 miles to break the record in the early hours of Friday morning. British yachtswoman Tracy Edwards broke Fossett's 1994 record on board Maiden 2 by over 24 hours six weeks ago setting a new target of 4 days, 17 hours, 4 minutes and 23 seconds. PlayStation crossed the start line on Sunday afternoon off Ramsgate Harbour. To beat Maiden 2's time, PlayStation will have to cross the line off Ramsgate by 0943GMT on Friday. Fossett holds numerous records, including the trans-Atlantic and trans-Mediterranean crossings.
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