Wolrld Speed record in Multihull

by Rachel Anning on 15 Dec 2001 Steve Fossett and his crew was yesterday presented, in the Yacht Club de France in Paris, with EDS' 24-hour Multihull World Speed Award for shattering the record with a run of 687.17 n miles during his transatlantic crossing in October, aboard the yacht PlayStation.

Steve Fossett and all of his nine crew were in attendance at a special awards ceremony hosted by the Yacht Club de France. The President of the Yacht Club, Pierre-Paul Heckly, presented the award to Steve along with Francis Jubert, Head of Communications, EDS France. They were presented with a cash prize along with a stunning crystal glass statue.

There seems to be no stopping Steve Fossett who has just broken his fifth record this year by taking 27 minutes off Tracy Edwards' Channel Record with his run from Cowes to St Malo in 6 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds for the
138 n mile run.

Upon accepting his trophy Steve commented: 'We're very proud and honoured to be here today and to be receiving the EDS Multihull World Speed Record.

'Many of the crew have come a long way but we all wanted to be here to accept this award in person. PlayStation was the best boat filled with the best people and I'm delighted that EDS has chosen to sponsor this award as the 24 hour run is a very unique record and one which the sailing world continually strives to beat.'

Upon being questioned about his next projects Steve, who is never one to rest and continually strives to fulfil his passions of sailing, flying and ballooning, explained how he is now working with NASA. He continued: 'I'm
working with NASA next and will be mixing science with the ultimate challenge of flying at a height never achieved before. I'll essentially look like an astronaut on a glider! I don't class myself specifically as sailor, more an adventurer and, once again, I'm going to do my best to beat the record.'

Francis Jubert, EDS comments: 'We've been sponsoring this award for four months now and this is the first time the record has been broken. Steve and his crew had a fantastic run across the Atlantic and reached incredible
speeds on the downwind sprint, making it not only a record-breaking attempt but also an exhilarating ride for all those on board as well as all those keeping track of him on the Web.

'EDS is delighted to be sponsoring this award and wanted to encourage sailors to achieve excellence by pushing the limits, break existing speed records and setting new ones. The Award reflects sailing to the highest possible standard performed by the best people in the industry.'

The record has the endorsement of the World Sailing Speed Record Federation; the body that oversees new records, and is working with EDS to notify them when records are potentially going to be broken as the business solutions giant also sponsors the EDS Monohull World Speed Award.

The Monohull World Speed Record is currently held by Bernard Stamm aboard Superbbigou (named Armor Lux-Foie Graz Bizac when the record was set).

The distance sailed needs to be at least one mile greater than the previous record in order to be ratified by the World Speed Sailing Record Council. Timed position reports from the vessel must be GPS (Global Satellite
Positioning) positions, which are then transmitted onwards to an approved base station. These positions must be collected and forwarded without any action by the crew on the vessel.