Fossett Challenges - Lead Over Orange 2002 RTW Course Shrinks To 830 Miles

Saturday 20 March 2004 - 1710 GMT - 748 nm East of Comodoro Rivadavia, Patagonia, Argentina: It has been slow going - but going nevertheless - for Steve Fossett and crew aboard Cheyenne as they pick their way through the ridge of High pressure blocking their path North. Although boat speed has been reported at between 7 - 10 kts throughout the day, the alternatively NW, NE and back to NW course has meant they have only logged a net of 62 nm since 0510 this morning. But much better conditions appear to lie ahead.

George Caras of Commanders Weather: "The next 6-10 hours will be slow as they ride out the High, but the cold front approaching will bring increasing winds from the NW between 00z - 0100z, then backing to the W and SW and increasing to 15-20 kts through Sunday on a good angle, letting them accelerate on a NE course again. Monday should see these same winds increasing further to 20-30 kts."

The lead over Orange's 2002 RTW has dropped to approx 830 miles - still 2 days, with Cheyenne's crew well aware of their 'phantom' rival racing North as they continue the hard work to breach the ridge.

From Brian Thompson's report this morning: "It feels like Bruno and his team, including my friend Nick Moloney, are breathing down our necks, charging along at 500 mile a day pace as we tack on the faintest zephyrs here at 46 south. Of course they passed here 2 years ago but their phantom remains, here on our computer screens with their track, and with the vivid stories that Nick told of their trip."

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