He went missing on 3 September. We look at his sailing records

On Monday 3 September adventurer Steve Fossett was reported missing after he became overdue on a flight in a light aircraft. The news hit the headlines around the world with details of his flying, gliding and ballooning records.

Now maybe I’m over-sensitive on this topic but once again (see my earlier blog about Team GBR and their medal haul at the Quingdao pre Olympic Regatta) the BBC and the Times failed to record his very substantial number of sailing records. At least the Daily Telegraph mentioned the word ‘sailboat’.

Well, for the record (and in case any BBC and newspaper Editors read this) Fossett broke an incredible 21 sailing records, some of which still stand. These include round the world, transatlantic, round Britain and Ireland, Round the Island, Newport to Bermuda and Round Ireland. That’s more than any other yachtsman past or present.