IN BRIEF

* <> REDUCES DEFICIT ON BOURGNON’S RECORD TO JUST 5 HOURS 34 MINUTES (95.6 miles behind) in last 24 hours with just over 1000 miles to the finish line with approximately 3 days 16 hours to go… “the huge push yesterday has paid off and we are back on track…”

* POSSIBILITY OF BREAKING THE DECADE-OLD RECORD LOOKING MORE FAVOURABLE as Macarthur averages higher speeds.

* <> POSITIONED AT 43 DEGREES SOUTH 290 MILES NORTH OF FAIAL ISLANDS AT THE AZORES heading for a gybing waypoint 600 miles away…expects to gybe on to starboard tomorrow afternoon and ’straight line’ it for the finish…

* AS EXPECTED THE CONDITIONS GENERATING ‘FULLY-LOADED’ RACING and Macarthur reports surfing down waves at 33 knots! Winds are expected to build as <> heads further north but risk of diminishing breeze in the crucial final hours on Monday.

STATISTICS AT 1400 GMT 26 JUNE
Elapsed time: 4d 15h 50m
Ahead/Behind record: -95.6nm 5h 34 m behind
Distance covered: 1802
Distance to finish: 1053
Position 43 23 00N, 29 02 45W
Average boat speed (VMG) towards finish so far: 16.09
Average boat speed (VMG) now required to beat record: 17.85
Current boat speed:20.5
TWS - 25.4 kt
TWD - 323 d

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It’s a mission, a real mission and am really looking forward to getting in!

The last 24 hours have been very, very stressful but progress is good and I am very happy about getting to within 8 hours of Laurent’s record – the huge push yesterday has paid off and we are back on track…

I have not had less then 20 knots of wind in last few hours so looking okay for record. We should keep the breeze and it is building so no need for gennaker or major sail changes so it’s more manageable. As the breeze clocks round we will follow it, so pretty straight forward really. I expect we will gybe around 600 miles away tomorrow afternoon…Maxsea is putting the gybe at around 50 30 N and around 19 W or 17 W but it depends on the angles we are sailing.

I completely exhausted myself yesterday doing too many sail changes but had two hours sleep last night - it will be pretty interesting to see the sleep data when I get back. I will try to sleep as much as I can today to be ready for the final stage to the finish.

The motion of B&Q is pretty violent and we are regularly surfing between 25-30 knots of speed - our top surfing speed has been 33 knots this morning!

WEATHER BRIEFING: from Commander’s Weather
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in knots, and time is GMT

Sat, June 26
12: 300-290/15-20, near 43 20n/30 55w
18: 290-280/14-20, more wind speed further N
Weather: Mix of clouds and sunshine this morning, partly cloudy afternoon
and overnight.

Sun, June 27 - winds rebuild somewhat as progress further north
00: 280-260/16-22
06: 260-240/18-23
12: 250-230/18-23, near 49N/22 20W - recommend N of 50N for more wind
speed and better angle
18: 230-250/20-25
Weather: Partly cloudy

Mon, June 28 - winds diminish
00: 220-240/18-23
06: 220-240/17-22
12: 220-240/14-20, near 49N/8 45W
18: 230-260/10-16
Weather: Partly cloudy to fair

Tue, June 29
00: 250-280/10-5 - finish at Lizard
06: 300-240/ 5-9

<> WILL HAVE TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE BY 00:44:42 GMT ON TUESDAY 29th JUNE 2004 TO SET ANEW RECORD FOR THE FASTEST SOLO SAILOR TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC

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