Ahead of Transatlantic Record Pace

Having broken the record for the most distance covered in 24 hours (687.17 nm), Steve Fossett’s big cat Playstation is 550 miles ahead of Transatlantic Record Pace.

At 17:00 GMT on 8 October 635 nm had been covered in the past 24 hours and there were 995+ nm to The Lizard finish line.

Following Sunday’s excitement of breaking the 24 Hour Record (subject to official ratification by the WSSR Council) with 687.17 nm achieved from Saturday to Sunday night, Steve Fossett, PlayStation and crew powered on through their third day out, maintaining an amazing 600+ mile daily pace across the North Atlantic as they follow a near great-circle route towards The Lizard, UK.

George Caras of meteorologists Commanders Weather commented on the conditions ahead: “PlayStation has had a great run – and is still running ahead of the cold front – with strong southerly winds at 30-35 knots since the start.”
“Tonight they will start to see a more southwesterly component with wind speed beginning to diminish to about 22-24 knots, but with a building sea state. Right now this front looks good to push them all the way across.”

At just under 3 days from the start (71 hrs 40 mins 43 secs) and with only 1000 nm to the finish, PlayStation was approximately 550 nautical miles ahead of the 1990 pace of current TransAt record holder Jet Services 5 (record: 6d13h3m32s).

For ongoing record status/updates/information (plus background, records, photos, and press release archive) please see www.fossettchallenge.com