Fossett Challenges - Almost 5 Days Ahead Of Current RTW Record Pace

Friday 2 April 2004 - 1710 GMT - 162 miles S/SW of Santa Maria, Azores: After 55-1/2 days the finish line is potentially less than 3 days away for Skipper Steve Fossett and his crew aboard the 125' maxi-catamaran Cheyenne. A swift run in SE breezes of around 20 kts saw them log 298 miles over the past 12 hours (avg speed 24.8 kts) and has left them almost 5 days ahead of the current record - and only 1273 miles from the finish line, which they hope to cross on Monday morning, April 5th.

Since the start on 7 February their target has been to beat the current record (64 days 8 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds set by Bruno Peyron on Orange I in 2002) as ratified by the WSSRC - World Sailing Speed Record Council. A Monday morning crossing of the line will record a new RTW record of some 58 days - an improvement of 6 days on the current mark.

Arrival at home base at Plymouth Yacht Haven marina in Plymouth, Devon, UK is expected on Monday afternoon / evening. (See media alert for contacts, info and updates.)

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