Fossett Challenges - Equator Crossing Probably On Sunday

Saturday 27 March 2004 - 0510 GMT - 238 miles E of Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, 567 miles S of the Equator: Steve Fossett and his team aboard Cheyenne had an excellent run North yesterday riding E and SE trades, and began their 50th day at sea this morning with a 3 day lead over the RTW record pace of current record holder Orange I. Their run of 516 nm (avg 21.5 kts) leaves them 567 nm from the Equator - which they hope to cross Sunday (Doldrums permitting), and a little less than 4000 miles (minimum course distance) back to the official WSSRC start-finish line, drawn between the French island of Ouessant and the UK landmark of The Lizard, Cornwall.

Back in the Pacific, Olivier de Kersauson and his team on the 114' French trimaran Geronimo spent part of Friday negotiating a small Low pressure system, covering 317 nm, ending their day 795 miles behind the equivalent Day 30 position of Cheyenne.

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