Soldini sets sail

The Italian 60ft tri leaves the dock

The match race for the TransMed record from Marseilles to Carthage in Tunisia, may still come to pass between Giovanni Soldini's 60ft trimaran TIM and the maxi-catamaran PlayStation.

TIM set sail at 15:44:30 local time (13:44:30GMT) this afternoon. Along for the ride is top meteorologist and router, Pierre Lasnier.

The start was scheduled for later in the afternoon but a good 25 knot wind convinced the Italian Around Alone winner to leave earlier. At the time PlayStation was still at the dock, although a spokesman for Steve Fossett's maxi-catamaran said their departure was imminent. "They're expecting a real blow," he said.

"It will be an exciting fight," commented Soldini. " Playstation is 20 meters longer than us and its sails measure 1,081 square metres: the double of TIM. We are like David facing Goliath".