The Official
Website of the
International
Sailing Federation

Luc Trullemans, meteorologist to the attempt, has predicted South Westerly to Westerly winds to pick up to around 21-28 knots this evening and remain generally at a force 6 for the rest of the night.

This forecast, if it holds, is essential to the progress of Steve Fossett and his fourteen-person crew if they are to reach the start/finish line off Ramsgate by 0842 GMT tomorrow morning. They struggled throughout the night with boat speeds dropping to less than 1 knot for a period of time, turning what was a comfortable cushion over Maiden II's record, into what was an hour ago nearly a 2-hour deficit.

Getting across the Celtic sea proved to be a bit of a problem, combined with the dramatic drop in wind speed, a series of other problems also struck the boat which although quickly overcome, could prove the difference between a new record, and missing out. Steve commented on the problems, "About the time we started worrying about the loss of wind, a succession of minor problems arose. The genniker sheet broke, we snagged some commercial fishing gear - and even the Head broke! The crew easily fixed all these problems, although the fishing lines we were unable to cut away have now jammed our starboard daggerboard in the up position - but this is not of concern"

The whole crew and boat are now reported to be in good spirits and sailing well. Although currently struggling to round Bishop's Rock on the Southwest corner of the British Isles, Playstation's boat speed has increased to 18.5 knots in the past hour with the true wind veering and increasing as predicted. They now need to average 17.17 knots over the final 360 miles to set a new record.
It will be close

Position Data Since 0000 GMT, 24/10/2002

Time	Lat	Lon	Head	Speed	TWS	TWD	TWA
11.38z	49 56.730 N	06 55.600 W	166	18.5	17	168	53
10.38z	50 00.760 N	07 19.480 W	99	15.9	15	149	51
09.38z	no data	no data	no data	no data	no data	no data	no data
08.38z	50 15.410 N	07 37.400 W	112	14.2	17	137	25
07.38z	50 12.120 N	07 59.660 W	75	16.1	15	136	50
06.38z	50 06.900 N	08 21.930 W	87	14.9	14	136	48
05.38z	50 03.450 N	08 41.780 W	84	13.8	13	133	49
04.38z	49 59.770 N	09 02.800 W	77	13.7	14	125	47
03.38z	49 52.000 N	09 21.290 W	76	15.6	14	124	48
02.38z	49 52.770 N	09 34.670 W	167	12.1	14	109	58
01.38z	50 02.570 N	09 39.180 W	163	12	13	106	57
00.38z	50 13.060 N	09 44.090 W	168	9.9	12	112	56

TWA: True Wind Angle; TWD: True Wind Direction; TWS: True Wind Speed