| |
|
American adventurer Steve Fossett will put his 105 foot catamaran Playstation on the clock for the first time in an attempt to break the record for distance sailed in a 24 hour period.
Fossett and 8 crewmembers, including the cat's builder Mick Cookson, left Auckland yesterday. They headed for Great Barrier Island which is approximately 50 miles east of Auckland.
Once on station off Great Barrier Island they will attempt to find a steady easterly breeze hopefully in the 20 to 25 knot range. Although there have been no reports from Playstation winds in the area seem to be favourable. Reports from ship observations taken at 1200 GMT include an observed wind of 19 knots from the east at 34 degrees south 174 degrees east and 24 knots blowing North east by east reported from a postion of 33 degrees south 176 dgress west. These observatrions come from the area Playstation will be in.
Once underway Playsation will head north towards Fiji hoping to cover 550 miles in 24 hours. 550 miles would mean averaging 23 knots. Playstation will spend 3 days at sea in this attempt. According to The Race website at 1600 GMT Friday Playstation in making a 2nd attempt at the record. It is not clear how the 1st attempt ended or when the 2nd started.
The current holder of the 24 hour record is Laurent Bourgnon of France who sailed 540.0 miles in June of 1994.