Fossett changes plans

Tomorrow PlayStation will attempt the round the Isle of Wight record

Following this morning's disappointing withdrawal from their attempt on the Cowes to St Malo record, Steve Fossett has decided that tomorrow he will try to break the course record round the Isle of Wight.

Of the aborted Cowes-St Malo record Fossett commented: "It was worth the try. The weather as forecast would have worked, but when we left the Solent it was blowing at least 10 knots more than expected. This was beyond the safety zone so we had to abort. At least the helicopter got some great footage."

With a strong crew already assembled Fossett has decided to have a crack at retrieving the Isle of Wight 'Round the Island' record he once held on his 60ft trimaran Lakota.

"Conditions are now very poor for a Cowes - St Malo record but a northeast wind is ideal to go round the island. We used to hold this record (3h 35min set in 1994) and it was broken last summer by Rodney Pattison sailing Dexia Eure et Loire in a time of 3 h 10 min. I'd like to get it back!"

PlayStation will leave the Empress Dock in Southampton Friday morning (9 November) around 0700 GMT and be ready to start about 0900.

There appears to be no good weather pattern for a further attempt on the Cowes-St Malo record for the next week at least, so the plan now is for the crew to return home and wait for a new opportunity over the coming weeks.