Cheyenne Jules Verne update - Day 4

Cheyenne covers further 130+ miles overnight - 246 miles due west of Lanzarote

Following Tuesday's strong daylight run of 252 miles South from Madeira towards the Canaries (taking advantage of a fair easterly breeze and a good wind angle through the day), Cheyenne turned right at the Tenerife traffic light last night, covering another 130+ miles of westing in generally light air over the past 12 hours, tactically working to reach increasing N/NE winds projected for later Wednesday.

The 125' foot catamaran finished her 4th day on the RTW sailing record course this morning just over a day behind the virtual 2002 position of Orange, the current record holder (see NOBELTEC Zoom map on www.fossettchallenge.com). But real-life competition lurks in the shadows as well.

Former record-holder Olivier de Kersauson and Geronimo are a day behind on the course - breaking fast out of this year's gate. Presumably aiming to catch the same large pattern South, they are also expected to have to thread their way past light air for some hours before continuing a fast run to the equator.

And of course two-time RTW record-holder Bruno Peyron christens his new Orange 120' maxi cat later today in L'Orient - and will soon join this season's RTW fray.

Fossett and Cheyenne lost 1/2 a day - plus the knock-on effect of missing a weather gate - stuck too far east in High pressure on Sunday (Day 2) and continue to pay. Analysis of Geronimo's first 36 hours on course (from their Sunday pm start) shows the 110' French tri to have already reduced the gap by 198 nm on this early segment.

But Cheyenne's strong run South Tuesday, coupled with stronger N/NE breezes expected tonight keep Fossett's weather team 'pretty confident' of a targeted 8 day trip to the equator - an acceptable run given the distinctly non-traditional start pattern taken by both boats so far on the course.