March 18, 2004
2 minutes reading time
Cheyenne Takes 39 Days, 16 Hours and 16 Minutes To Round Cape Horn
Steve Fossett and team are currently two and a half days ahead of record pace - and having rounded Cape Horn last night are now heading into the South Atlantic for the long final push on their Round The World Sailing record bid.
Steve Fossett and team are currently two and a half days ahead of record pace – and having rounded Cape Horn last night are now heading into the South Atlantic for the long final push on their Round The World Sailing record bid.
Steve commented: “We are filled with optimism that we can actually pull this off.”[ioID]448E135ED8574270BCA1E36DF24F32DB/04_cheyenne_capehorn.jpg>
Cheyenne and crew crossing Cape Horn on 17 March 2004 – Steve Fossett at the helm. Lined up in front of him, L-R:Damian Foxall, Mike Beasley, Fraser Brown, Mark Featherstone, Brian Thompson, Justin Slattery, Jacques Vincent, Dave Scully and Guillermo Altadill. Crouching in front are Adrienne Cahalan and Paul ‘Whirley’ van Dyke. © Nick Leggatt/Marathon Racing 2004
Having already sailed more than 18,000 miles, Fossett and his team now face at least 7,500 further miles before they reach their official starting point at the French island of Ouessant, where their target is the current world record of 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds set by Bruno PEYRON (FRA) in 2002 aboard the 110′ maxicatamaran Orange I.
The coming challenges the crew face are substantial, both in maximizing speed while avoiding overstressing the powerful catamaran, and in course selection. High pressure systems coming off the Argentine coast are already forcing them to plan to speed Eastwards past the Falkland Islands before they can turn North. Another ridge of High pressure then awaits them – requiring careful route planning – and a possible trade of speed for position.
An optimistic Skipper Steve FOSSETT spoke briefly yesterday evening:
“Everyone is in high spirits here. For 6 of us it is the first time around the Horn. For (Cheyenne watch captain) Jacques Vincent, it is the seventh time – which is the most ever of any racing sailor. More importantly it is a milestone in our campaign to break the RTW record. Despite an array of problems, we have reached this point faster than any other boat. We are filled with optimism that we can actually pull this off.
Now the focus shifts to our next challenge – navigating a course through the light and variable winds of the Southern Atlantic. It does not look easy.”