HOYA Round the Island Race Overall

SAILING SUCCESS AT THE 64TH HOYA ROUND THE ISLAND RACE

In one of the most successful starts in history, the 64th Hoya Round the Island Race took place today from Cowes, Isle of Wight. Although record breaking conditions were hampered by the light airs at the start, first across the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line was Steve Fossett's 105ft Maxi Catamaran PlayStation taking the Freedom Challenge Cup.

Renowned yachtsman, balloonist and endurance sportsman, Steve Fossett, the skipper of PlayStation, whose sails loomed 140ft high in the blue skies, weaved between a 1,587 strong fleet as cruising dayboats jostled with Olympic sailors in the largest and most popular yacht race of its type in the world. Skipper, Fossett led the fleet around the island and completed the 50 nautical mile course well outside record pace in 5 hours, 45 mins and 16 seconds. "It was very challenging at the start, we were careful not to collide with any of the 200 boats in our class, we found a gap and started by sailing slowly upwind in the Western Solent. Again the airs were light when we came into the Eastern Solent on the homeward run. It was an enjoyable race, we never got becalmed, but I think we were too optimistic about the record-breaking conditions," said Fossett.

Taking the Observer Trophy for first monohull home was Hoya Fling, the Farr CM60 skippered by Irvine Laidlaw with tactics by Britain's leading international yachtsman, Eddie Warden Owen in a time of 6 hours, 43 mins and 34 seconds. Hoya Fling's crew included Bruce Jones, who plays Coronations Street's Les Battersby. "I could do it all over again," said Bruce as he completed the race. "It was exhilarating, exciting and the best yacht race experience I've had so far - certainly very different to sailing my Westerly 45."

Yachts of every size and description packed the Solent at 0630, a South Westerly 6 - 10 knot breeze allowed most competitors to get a clean start. All eyes were on the fastest and largest yacht in the race PlayStation who had an encouraging start and was the first boat to round the famous Needles at 0755, but despite a promising forecast and lumpy Solent seas, the course record of 3 hours, 55 mins and 28 seconds, set in 1986 by Mike Whipp and Rodney Pattisson in the tri-maran Paragon, remained intact.

The three-strong Ultra 30 fleet, competing in the Hoya Round the Island Race for the first time finished within a minute of each other. United Airlines having led most of the route finished just behind DBS, followed by Team Hoya.

The winner of the main trophy, the highly coveted Gold Roman Bowl, will be announced after all yachts, under the IRC rating system, have finished and the Race Committee have confirmed all results.

The winners of the Yachting Monthly Family Trophy, awarded to the winning boat with a minimum of four immediate family members on board in the ISC Handicap Groups, will be presented along with the rest of the day's trophies at the prize giving ceremony at the Island Sailing Club on Sunday, 11th June at midday.

PlayStation Rounds the Isle in Style

Fossett 1st overall in the 2000 Hoya Round the Island Race

Cowes, Isle of Wight 10 June: American Skipper Steve Fossett and his international crew on the maxi-catamaran PlayStation completed the 64th Hoya Round the Island Yacht Race and a beautiful day of sailing today (Saturday 10 June) with a light-hearted, light winds victory. The 105 foot (32m) carbon fibre giant completed the 50 nm course in 5 hrs 45 mins 44 secs, some 48 minutes ahead of the next placed competitor, the trimaran Gleam, skippered by Robin Herbert.

PlayStation, already holder of the world record for distance covered in 24 hours under sail - 580.23 nm set in March, 1999 - recently arrived in the UK after a successful TransAtlantic crossing.

Skipper Steve Fossett: "We had a really enjoyable day out there. Of course, with light winds there was no chance for a record today, but we had a fine sail."

Watch Captain - and PlayStation co-designer Gino Morrelli: "The start (0630H) was fairly reasonable - we really didn’t want a collision out there with over 200 boats in our section - 60 multi-hulls included - but everyone was well behaved and we got away OK. Winds were never over 16 kts - mostly 12-13kts -and we didn’t really see high boat speeds - I don’t think we hit 20 kts.

"We did have an opportunity to get some good light air practice - especially in the run to the finish when the wind also picked up a bit and we had some good practice experimenting with different sail configurations."

PlayStation will continue ocean testing out of Southampton next week, waiting for a weather window in order to head back to the USA via Plymouth. There will then be a third attack on the 10 year old West to East (New York to the Lizard) TransAtlantic record, hopefully in July. Fossett hopes to bring PlayStation back to the Isle of Wight for Cowes Week in August, before fourth quarter ‘round the world preparations recommence.