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The maxi catamaran, sailing at 16 knots, as she crossed the line still has 3400 miles left to cover to complete her round the world voyage on her attempt to improve on the outright record held by Cheyenne since last year. As she crossed the Equator, she set two new intermediary bench mark times and a new record (subject to World Sailing Speed Record Council ratification) for the journey from the Equator to the Equator.

The French catamaran, which set out on 24 January 2005, is back in the North Atlantic after 10 days, 19 hours and 5 minutes of sailing at an average speed of 22 knots. She was thus 9 days and 8 hours ahead of the record time set by the American catamaran for the journey between Ushant and the second Equator crossing.

Orange II was also faster than Cheyenne on the leg from Cape Horn to the Equator. Bruno PEYRON'S crew took 8 days, 5 hours and 36 minutes between these two points, improving by 2 days and 5 hours on the time taken by the Fossett's crew last year.

Finally, there is a new record that has been set by Orange II, according to the WSSRC rules 2005-2008. After the Indian and South Pacific crossing records, Orange II should be given the new reference time between the two Equators via the three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn). This new time, which is subject to ratification by the WSSRC is 33 days, 16 hours and 9 minutes, or 8 days and 5 hours better than Cheyenne on the same stretch.

So it is with a lead of 9 days and 8 hours over the outright record that Orange II is tackling the final leg between the Equator and Ushant this morning. A year ago, Cheyenne covered this distance in a record time of 8 days and 6 hours in exceptional weather conditions. The Cheyenne crew were able to take the direct route to reach Ushant, while Orange II, this year, looks like having to take the long way around via the north west, as a high-pressure area is blocking their path.