August 30, 2000

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The Transatlantic Record Stands

August 30 – North Atlantic

Steve Fossett says it best: “Time’s up. A record would
have required crossing Lizard Head this morning at 0752 GMT and
we were still 124 miles out. What had started as one of the most
promising weather patterns of the year ended in light headwinds
and very slow sailing.

“This is a keen disappointment to the ‘PlayStation’ crew.
The Transatlantic record was our primary objective for this year,
and we have made three Atlantic crossings this summer. ‘PlayStation’
is strong and fast enough for this record, but there is a reason
why it has stood for 10 years and resisted 21 attempts: It is
very difficult to get a weather pattern which has good winds all
the way across.

“Next summer the record will surely be broken. ‘PlayStation’
will be back and we will have new competitors: the unlimited catamarans
which are being built for The Race.”

‘PlayStation’ began the current record attempt a week ago on August 23.

Steve Fossett steers ‘PlayStation’ out of New York Harbor bound for England.

Photos Mark Greenberg/Visions
Courtesy Steve Fossett Ocean Challenge

See www.fossettchallenge.com
for more.

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Weather Updates

August 30 – Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Tropical Weather

Tropical Storm John is still cooking along at 55 knots (with
gusts to 65) in the Eastern Pacific. You can keep track of John
at http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/2000/index.html.
All remains quiet in the Atlantic-Caribbean.

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay right now, check
out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/.

California Coast Weather

Looking for current as well as recent wind and sea readings
from 17 buoys and stations between Pt. Arena and the Mexican border?
Here’s the place – which has further links to weather buoys and
stations all over the U.S.
www.ndbc.noaa.gov/stuff/southwest/swstmap.shtml

Pacific Ocean Weather

Click here to see today’s weather
map from the University of Hawaii Meteorology Department.

Pacific Sea State

Check it out at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.

For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.