Cheyenne is back in the North Atlantic and about 4 1/2 days ahead of record pace. http://www.fossettchallenge.com

They're just getting aligned with a low pressure system and plan to ride it like a wave all the way to the finish (who would have thought that we could build a sail boat that can travel as fast as weather systems?). They've suffered a lot of major failures but managed to grind, drill, cut, and screw the boat back together. From the 2.5" forestay coming apart, main sail track shearing off the mast at 120' and again at 140' above the deck, to the carbon fiber toilet seat breaking, to the pin holding the bow beam to the hull breaking in two threatening to dismast the boat; they've caught and fixed it all before they became super critical problems. They expect to "put the pedal down" in the smooth water and strong wind to the finish. There's even talk that they could possibly perform a sub-60 day circumnavigation that will take a new generation of boat or incredible luck with the weather to break in the future. Awesome adventure these guys have had so far.

You know why they're winning right?

Because I touched their port hull in Norfolk :P

http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com

Saturday 3 April 2004 - 0510 GMT - 638 miles SW of Cape Finisterre: Steve Fossett and his crew of 12 aboard the 125' maxicatamaran Cheyenne continued their attempt on the Round The World Sailing record through their 56th day Friday with a terrific 590 nm run (averaging 24.6 kts) - as they raced for the finish line drawn by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council) between Ouessant island in France and UK landmark 'The Lizard' on the Cornish coast.

The lead over the position of the 2002 RTW record holder (Orange I - 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes, skipper Bruno Peyron) is now 1660 miles across the water - but is estimated at over 5 days based on Orange's 2002 course over the final week.

Crossing the finish line is now estimated for 1200 GMT on Monday (April 5th) with arrival at home base in Plymouth, UK later that evening (see media alert below for details).
Steve Fossett wrote this morning:
"The finish is downwind sailing the rest of the way. We will approach Finisterre (the Northwest corner of Spain) then gybe across the Bay of Biscay. Winds for the last day will be excruciatingly light, but at least from the West. - Steve"

Damian's diary days 54-55 "Day 54 483 Miles":
Some of the best sailing to date , in stark contrast to the last few days of beating and looking after the boat on every wave. Now beautiful flat seas and reaching at 25kts to the North , we are really having an awesome run up the North Atlantic , and the prediction is now for us hooking into a Low which should take us downwind to the finish in 3-4 Days .

Early this morning ... On Watch , and we spy our first sailing boat in a month. Right on our track , a little 40' Cruising boat , goose-winged out and heading for the Caribbean. I'm on the helm so as the hapless vessel gets bigger , we request the standard 'Permission to do a flyby ?' Naturally it is denied , which of course brings the required response of bearing away to insure max speed and a trajectory that will cross nicely across the bow of our cruiser , ( Nicely being of course a seaman -like distance of 4 Cheyenne boat lengths or 12 Cruiser boat lengths).

Our full crew lines up on deck expecting to see ( or maybe just hoping ) a pair of tanned Swedish girls. Instead the **** appears empty , but as we cross their bow ,a volley of shouts gives our poor holiday makers a start from their morning coffee and 2 bemused English blokes stumble into their **** as we flash past , smiles and waves all around . Within 15 minutes we are over the horizon and each boat returns to its own little world of water and sail.

Mark consoles us , saying there maybe be some Swedish girls in Plymouth ...

Should be finishing within the hour!

Wish I got the Eurospeed channel, its being broadcast live over there. Blast me for living in the states! :P

58 Days 9 Hours 32 mins 45 secs
New Round The World Sailing Record for Fossett and Crew on Cheyenne

Monday 5 April 2004 ­ Isle d’Ouessant, France:

They’ve done it!

58 days 9 hours 32 mins 45 secs
American skipper Steve Fossett and his international crew of 12 aboard the 125’ maxi-catamaran Cheyenne crossed the official WSSRC start-finish line here at Le Stiff lighthouse on the French island of Ouessant (Ushant) - and have demolished the 2 year old Round The World Sailing record - by almost 6 days (improvement 5d 23h 4m 39s). Their time topples the May, 2002 mark of Bruno Peyron and Orange I and fulfill’s Fossett’s decade old ambition to achieve ‘the most important record in sailing’.

http://www.fossettchallenge.com/

58 Days 9 Hours 32 mins 45 secs
New Round The World Sailing Record for Fossett and Crew on Cheyenne

Monday 5 April 2004 ­ Isle de Ouessant, France:

They've done it!

58 days 9 hours 32 mins 45 secs
American skipper Steve Fossett and his international crew of 12 aboard the 125' maxi-catamaran Cheyenne crossed the official WSSRC start-finish line here at Le Stiff lighthouse on the French island of Ouessant (Ushant) - and have demolished the 2 year old Round The World Sailing record - by almost 6 days (improvement 5d 23h 4m 39s). Their time topples the May, 2002 mark of Bruno Peyron and Orange I and fulfill's Fossett's decade old ambition to achieve the most important record in sailing.

Anyone wanna go in on a 125' beachcat?

Congrats to Cheyenne which includes New England Nacra 20 sailor Paul van Dyke. He is in the upper left.