Fossett Challenges - Cheyenne Has Another Mast Track Breakage To Deal With

Lead over RTW record pace 1300 miles
Tuesday March 16th 2004 - 1710 GMT - 560 miles NW Cape Horn: Although the West wind has returned and Cheyenne is again making speed in the 15-19 kt range heading straight for the Cape, the news this afternoon is not all good.

Slow winds in the middle of the Low held the big cat to only 112 miles over the past 12 hours - but are now at 14 kts from the W and are expected to both increase to 20-25 kts and to veer to the Northwest over the coming 24 hours, allowing Fossett and team to gain real speed - and continue their drive directly towards Cape Horn.

Equally importantly, however, another piece of Cheyenne's mainsail track, this time up near the top of the 143' mast, has parted company. The latest breakage of the rail that holds the mainsail to the mast occurred early on Tuesday, the 39th day of Cheyenne's Round The World Sailing record attempt, and represents one more hurdle for Steve Fossett and his crew of 12 to overcome after Sunday's repair to Saturday's similar damage at the first reef point. This time the full repair will await the first slowdown in waters after Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands.

Running under a single reefed main and headsail, at 1710 GMT this afternoon Fossett and crew were making 16.4 kts and were only 560 nm from Cape Horn, which they hope to round Wednesday afternoon.

The diminished lead over the 'phantom' 2002 record track of Bruno Peyron's Orange isstill over 3 days - but is now accompanied by the increasing threat by Olivier de Kersauson and Geronimo's current strong effort - the 110' French trimaran passed Cape of Good Hope Sunday night almost precisely on Cheyenne's time - and continued their strong run into the Indian Ocean.

Cheyenne's crew showed their mettle in an all-day repair job

For further details and regular position updates, please see: www.fossettchallenge.com