24 Hour Record Attempt Abandoned
Wind Shift and Drop Finishes Record Attempt After 8 Hours
Fossett and Crew Returning To Base
1 June 2003 - 0620 0220 EDT / GMT:
Skipper Steve Fossett reported this morning that the weather had won this one:
"We are turning back.After a fast start, the winds shifted 15 degrees and dropped from 26 knots to 20 knots.This greatly slowed our progress and a 24 Hour Record is not feasible this time. For this record, everything must be right.
We are turning south and bracing ourselves for a pasting by the storm front following closely behind us. It will take at least 2 days to get back to Norfolk Virginia. - Steve Fossett"
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Fossett and PlayStation Press The Start Button
24 Hour Record Attempt Begins At 1800 EDT / 2200 GMT Saturday Night
1800 EDT / 2200 GMT 31 May 2003 - 200 miles northeast of Norfolk, VA, USA: With the wind blowing at just over 21 kts and coming from just west of south, skipper Steve Fossett and crew sailing aboard the 125 foot catamaran PlayStation began their attempt to regain the 24 Hour Record at 1800 EDT / 2200 GMT - heading eastwards across the Atlantic from a start point off the USA east coast.
Earlier today, Steve commented on the weather he was looking for:
" We've been waiting a month for the right weather. This is potentially the best system of the season - an intense low-pressure system with a fast-moving front, hopefully at up to 30-35 kts.
There is, in fact, a fairly narrow band with the right wind. Too far ahead and the wind drops to 15 kts. Too far behind and we'll fall into the front. It is important we can stay just ahead of it - as the winds within the front could be up to 55 kts - and that would certainly stop us."
Crew:
Steve Fossett - Skipper
David Scully - Watch Captain
Nick Leggatt
Paul Van Dyke
Tom Weaver
Mark Featherstone
Sarah Lynch
Tim McKegney
Marion Goran
The current record is 694.78 nautical miles, set in June 2002 by Maiden 2 (co-skippered by Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid and Adrienne Cahalan).
Steve and PlayStation have twice held this record, firstly in February 1999 at 580.23 nm off New Zealand, and again at 687.17 nm, set during their successful TransAtlantic record of October, 2001.
All of Steve Fossett's adventure challenges are supported by Michelob ULTRA, the new low-carbohydrate premium beer from Anheuser-Busch - the world's largest brewer.
For all Steve Fossett's challenges and to follow progress throughout this record attempt, please see:
www.fossettchallenge.com 
