Mari Cha IV underway

Giant schooner embarks on west-east transatlantic record

Robert Miller’s 140ft schooner, Mari Cha IV, started its west to east transatlantic record attempt this afternoon at 17:39:41 BST.

The giant schooner set sail with Miller at the wheel and a crew of 22 of the world’s best sailors onboard. The record attempt officially started as they passed Ambrose Lighthouse off New York Harbour, and was recorded by the pilot boat The New Jersey.

To capture the current record, set by Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm on board the Open 60 Armor Lux-Foie Gas Bizac on 1 February 2001, they must sail to Lizard Point, Cornwall in less 8 days, 20 hours, 55 minutes and 35 seconds. On this attempt the crew are looking to simply break the record rather than to pulverise it, which with a weapon with more than twice the LOA of Stamm's Open 60, is highly plausible.

In the process they are looking to also take the outright monohull 24 hour record beyond the 500 mile mark.

On board Jef d'Etiveaud described the first moments of the voyage. "A few hours later as predicted by our shore weather teams, the wind starts to blow at 15 to 20 from the west. It is time to go for what we have all worked so hard for so many days.

"Code 3 ( spinnaker) Main, Mizzen Staysail 1 and Mizzen up. We pass the line at 20 knots. Short starboard tack to get away from the shore and the first gybe half an hour after the start. We are now right on course at 20 kts - nice way to start. Long way to go."

Unusually Mari Cha IV has left on the front of a high pressure system that was currently heading seaward from the east coast of the States. Out in the Atlantic at present the main feature is the Azores high which is centred at around 50degN - considerably further up the map than it should be. However this should drift south over the next days and the great circle route to the Lizard will take Mari Cha IV to the north of it in any case.

Crew list:

Skipper/Owner: Robert Miller British
Navigator/Project Manager: Jef d'Etiveaud French
Navigator: Mike Quilter New Zealand
Helmsman: Mike Sanderson New Zealand

Watch Captains:
Brad Jackson New Zealand
Stuart Bannatyne New Zealand

Trimmers:
Brett Jones Australian
Jules Mazart French
Robbie Naismith New Zealand
Sean Clarkson New Zealand
Sidney Gavignet French

Grinders:
Brian McInnes Canadian
Crowne Prince Pavlos Greek
Damian Durchon French
Matthew Welling American
Mike Howard American

Bowmen:
Jacques Caraes French
Jan Dekker South African
Marco Chaverot French
Richard Meacham New Zealand

Pitmen:
Jared Henderson New Zealand
Stefan Fodor American

Engineer:
Rob Fischer New Zealand