The current Jules Verne record is 64 days 8 hours. Cheyenne rounded Cape Horn 2 days 10 hours ahead of this pace.

Steve Fossett and crew have thousands of miles, many weather systems, more possible breakages and other variables ahead. Fossett says, “We are filled with optimism that we can actually pull this off.”

What, then, might be a best case scenario? While setting the 64 day mark Bruno Peyron’s Orange recorded the fastest times from Cape Horn to the Equator and the Equator to home. Their total time was 534 hours or 22 days 6 hours. Add this to Cheyenne’s Cape Horn mark of 39 days 16 hours and you get 61 days 22 hours.

To Cape Horn Cheyenne has been 6% faster than Orange. We can then take 6% off of Orange’s 534 hours and get 502 hours. Add this figure to the Cape Horn # and you get 59 days 16 hours, indeed under the 60 day mark!

Of course those are best case #’s. Just last year Geronimo’s unsuccessful attempt took 27 days from the Horn to Home. Such a trip would put Cheyenne at 66 days, outside of record territory.

Cheyenne’s team has more mast repairs ahead, high pressure and the doldrums to negotiate and 24 days 15 hours to do it in. Note this 24 day figure is closer to the 22 of Orange’s record than the 27 of Geronimo. Cheyenne will need to maximize pace to earn the record.

Jules Verne Trophy- Around the World Non Stop
Crewed Any Type Record

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