Steve Fossett and his crew are currently on standby in Plymouth, Devon in preparation for a round the world sailing record attempt. Fossett will skipper the 125ft maxi-catamaran ‘Cheyenne’ (former PlayStation) on the Jules Verne course and is hoping to add the world record to his already impressive list of achievements.

Fossett said: “I hope you will share with me the importance of our endeavour to break the record for Sailing Round the World on the Jules Verne course. A Round the World voyage represents one of the ultimate achievements in exploration and adventure. Our aim is to do it faster than it has ever been done before. Success is neither assured nor likely, but this goal is worthy of every effort that we make.

“Our first record was Round Ireland in September 1993, with Dave Scully and Brian Thompson sailing with me on Lakota. Success on the RTW would be the capstone of this sailing program which, in the last 10 years, has set 21 official world records (14 standing) and 9 distance race records (8 standing).”

Cheyenne’s multinational crew for the voyage includes

Steve Fossett (skipper) USA

Stan Honey (navigator) USA

David Scully (watch captain) USA

Guillermo Altadill ESP

Mike Beasley NZL

Fraser Brown NZL

Thomas Coville FRA

Mark Featherstone UK

Damian Foxall IRE

Nick Leggatt ZA

Paul Van Dyke USA

Jacques Vincent FRA