Boat speed: 38 knots

Chris Tibbs' pulse has finally recovered enough to recount his experience racing PlayStation round the island

Around the back of the island PlayStation came into her own in 30-35 knots of wind with the boat speed steady in the 30s. As the gusts came in the boat accelerated, then eased back again in the lulls. Easing back I should point out was down to 30 knots and as the gusts hit, a high of 38.8 knots of boat speed was recorded.

Many years ago on a maxi during the Whitbread we hit 30 knots surfing down a wave barely in control. At the time I thought this would be a once in a lifetime experience, but onboard PlayStation 30 knots seemed tame, the boat built to do this and happy at this mind blowing speed. Even at this speed there was a feeling that she could go more, but as the windward hull felt to be lifting, sails were eased slightly and the speed dropped to a more pedestrian 35.

St Catherines was reached one hour after starting and the rest of the trip was spent hard on the wind or close reaching.

Beating at 15-20 knots, our average speed was dropping but the distance to go was also. It seemed slow with two reefs and the storm jib and as the wind died a little this was changed to the staysail. Accelerating again towards Chichester there was soon a call to tack.

Once the power is off the boat stops and it is only experience and the backing of the headsail that allows a tack. Then comes the long grind of winding in the sails and hauling up the mainsail track. With the sheets leading up to the weather cockpit, there is a lot of rope and even with four grinding it is an exhausting job to bring on the jib. Even so the traveller is worst, and every inch seems like a mile.

Tacking is therefore a slow and tiring job and not something to be undertaken more often than necessary. It was with heart felt relief that Stan Honey called the tack perfectly and we were able to lay the forts in one. A slight bare away after the forts and we were back in the 20s and powering for Cowes.

It was only once we'd dropped the sails and were under tow back into Southampton that it all began to sink in (also that it was a very cold northerly wind).

The record was safely back in Steve Fossett's hands after temporarily being taken away in the summer, and we had not so much as broken as smashed it. The wind was perfect for the attempt but the apparent ease in which the record was broken belies the hard work and preparation that goes into an attempt like this. More records are likely to fall to this boat and crew and the overall impression is one of an immensely strong boat and crew; for the St Marlo record I will hopefully be there, clutching sea boots and weather maps just waiting to be asked.