TWC Breaking News: Cheyenne is safely across the finish. Time to circle the globe non-stop: 58 days, 9 hours 32 minutes 45 seconds, which crushes the old record by almost six days. Incredible. Here’s Fossett, who just bagged the record he considers the most important record in sailing:

“The past 24 hours were slow at first but improving winds became very strong by the time we crossed the line with 2 reefs and staysail ­ it was very dramatic ­ we had ours hands full – around this island the tides were whirling. Everyone is just so happy ­ we are all emotionally drained.

When we started out I thought the chance was 50/50 that we would get around. Then I wondered that the boat might not be fast enough…”

Guess it was fast enough and durable enough (barely). And that could be enough to hang onto the record for a good chunk of time, because approaching Cape Horn, Olivier De Kersauson is sounding like a beaten man: “Tacking to reach the Horn …, it’s like a bad dream. It’s no good, there’s no sense to it. It’s no longer competition. It’ll all end in us taking another beating, under three reefs and the storm jib. The reality is that being anywhere is better than being on Geronimo today!”

Fossett and his crew are now pointing the big cat towards Plymouth 120 miles on, arriving this evening. Mothers of Plymouth, lock your daughters up now….



Fossett Is Fastest: “Phew, we’re across the line. Say, Dave, is that “For Sale” sign ready yet?”