Fossett Challenges - 1050 nm Ahead Of RTW Record Pace

Friday 19 March 2004 - 1710 GMT - 309 nm NE of Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: Skipper Steve Fossett and Cheyenne continued their NE progress during Friday, covering 205 miles over the past 12 hours (averaging 17 kts), driven by winds from N/NW of 17-20 kts. Cheyenne's advantage over the 2002 RTW record path of Orange is now estimated at approx 1050 miles

It was also a day of more running repairs. Thursday night the old mainsail mast track pieces were removed. Next step on Friday was to head to the top to drill out the broken screws. Hopefully all the mast work will be completed today so Cheyenne's crew can hoist the full mainsail starting tonight, when every bit of available sail area may be needed to negotiate the upcoming High pressure ridge.

Navigator Adrienne Cahalan commented this afternoon on the weather ahead (and on just about everything else aboard as well - see her full report separately):
"We are currently still in the mid latitudes at 49S in NW wind of 20kts sailing fast upwind toward the high pressure ridge located at about 48S. Once we get through the high pressure ridge, on Sunday we should get moving again with a W-SW wind as the effects of a cold front start to push us forward out of the mid latitudes and into the sub tropics - namely latitude 30's. Early next week, the wind is then forecast to shift into the SW and then S by which time we will be in the sub tropics at about latitude 35S."

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