Another for the Record Books

The maxi cat Orange just broke the 700 mile barrier (706.2 nautical miles in 24 hours to be exact). Thats a sustained speed of 29.425 knots for 24 hours. I'm not sure I have ever been that fast in a sailboat for even one second, let alone steadily for 24 hours.

Orange is on an attempt at breaking Cheyene/Playstation's record Atlantic crossing from Sandy Hook off N.Y. Harbor to the Lizard on the Southwest coast of Britain (4 days 17 hours 28 minutes, October 2001, average speed 25.78 knots). Before she started I would have predicted that this record would be difficult to beat, but as I write, Orange is on a record pace and needs only to sail an average of 25 knots for the next 48 hours. (Only 25 knots... did I say that?)

[Update 8/25/04: Orange misses the record by 31 minutes and 12 seconds - less than 1/2 of a percent off. Maybe better sails...]