Fossett Challenges - Possible Monday Arrival

Wednesday 31 March 2004 - 1178 nm SouthWest of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria (Es): They can almost smell the distant shores of home. Steady tradewinds from the East have carried Steve Fossett and Cheyenne 244 nm over the past 12 hours (avg 20.3 kts), leaving the 125' maxi-cat a lead over the 2002 RTW position of Orange I of over 4 days and only 2269 miles remaining to the official WSSRC finish line on Ouessant island in France. An optimistic Steve Fossett described his hopes for a strong run over the coming days - and the possibility of crossing the line on Monday, April 5th:

"The weather outlook is excellent. We hope to hook up with the leading edge of a Low pressure system midday on Thursday and ride it to the finish at Ouessant. If the forecast holds, we hope to score 4 consecutive 500 mile days and arrive on Monday afternoon 5 April.

Our stated goal has been to break the 64 day 8 hour record of Orange, but our secret ambition has been to crack 60 days - which we believe is the potential of these maxi-multihulls. Now we find there is even the prospect of a 58 day time. We have increased confidence in the quality of the shipboard repairs of the forestay, mast and forward beam. We are going to crank up the speeds and go for a strong finish.

Steve Fossett - Skipper"

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