Heading for the line

Jean-Luc van den Heede and Adrien go 'amber' of start of Round Britain record attempt tonight

Having arrived in Cherbourg at dawn today, Jean-Luc Van den Heede set sail from the Norman port at 14H30 this afternoon after a few hours of recuperation, bound for the start line of his solo non-stop round Britain record attempt 60 miles away.

VDH and Adrien, the yacht in which he set the solo non-stop westabout round the world record, are heading for the start line off Ventnor on the south side of the Isle of Wight with a view to starting the attempt tonight. A representative of the WSSRC has been despatched to the island to record Adrien's start time.

Some last minute liaison with meteorologist Pierre Lasnier will take place at around 1800 before VDH sets off on her westabout clockwise lap. At present wind satellite charts are showing 15-20 knots easterly or ESEly for the early part of the voyage. At present there is still a possibility that Lasnier and VDH may agree that conditions aren't ideal in which case it will be back to Cherbourg for last orders for the tall bearded Frenchman.