Record pace - but too early for predictions

Latest news from Steve Fossett's Cheyenne

Day 40
Position: 54deg 49.808S 64deg 58.223W
Heading/speed: 011deg/17.3 knots
TWS/TWA: 24.0 knots/298 deg

Despite their pace being severely slowed by light winds and problems with their mast track over the last few days, Steve Fossett's Cheyenne last night set a new record between the start of the round the world and Cape Horn of a staggering 39 days 16 hours and 16 minutes.

A year ago followers of these round the world records were watching amazed as Olivier de Kersauson's Geronimo whipped round the Horn in 40 days 16 hours and there were mutterings of a 60 day round the world record being possible. Cheyenne's record is even more impressive.

To give an indication of Cheyenne's time compares with previous records:

2003 - Geronimo - 40d, 16h, 16m, 9s
2002 - Orange - 42d 2h 52m
1997- Sport Elec - 46d 16h 57m
1993 - Commodore Explorer - 53d 6h 42m

While we could be muttering about 60 day records again, the experience of Geronimo last year when conditions completely turned against her as she sailed back up the Atlantic, means we won't be making any such predictions until much later on on this occasion.

Already ahead an ominous area of high pressure is extending itself out across the race course around 700 miles to their northeast. The crew are also running out of ways to repair their mast track should those problems recurr.

Fingers crossed, etc...