These are busy times for those who follow round the world sailing records. Skipper Steve Fossett returned to Plymouth yesterday and confirmed that a reasonable weather scenario was coming together for an imminent Round The World start on board Cheyenne (the former PlayStation).

Early on Friday afternoon (Feb 6th), Steve and his crew will take the 125ft catamaran off the dock at Plymouth Yacht Haven and make the 120-mile trip to the official Round The World Record start line at Le Stiff lighthouse on the French island of Ouessant (Ushant). This transit to Ouessant should take 10-12 hours – mostly heading upwind.

Their next leg will be a little longer – totalling 21,760 miles in fact: Ouessant to Ouessant, via the three capes – Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, Fossett expects to cross the start line Saturday morning – between 0300-1200 GMT.

Cheyenne’s target will be the 2002 record as certified by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council) of 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes  24 seconds – avg speed13.98 kts, set by Bruno Peyron and crew aboard the 110ft catamaran Orange.

Steve Fossett was determined: “We’re going. After waiting since the start of the year we finally have a pattern we think will work. It is not a traditional start pattern, but we expect to find our way through.”

Watch Captain David Scully has been watching the local forecast with Steve: “Getting to the line will be rough – we’re facing headwinds of up to 50 kts. We are then expecting the wind to veer to the W / NW as we negotiate the Bay of Biscay.”

Follow the story at www.fossettchallenge.com