Quest International Sports Events (QISE) today confirmed that Steve Fossett’s yacht Cheyenne (formerly PlayStation) has joined the group of giant multihulls to compete in the Oryx Quest 2005 non-stop around-the-globe race in February 2005.

Skippered by American David Scully, Cheyenne joins Tony Bullimore’s Daedalus, Brian Thompson’s Qatar 2006 and Olivier de Kersauson’s Geronimo, and takes the total number of 100 foot-long sail boats circumnavigating the planet from Doha, Qatar on 5 February 2005 to four.

David Scully is famous for starting up Fossett’s multihull sailing programme in 1993 and has set 12 official World Records with Fossett as Watch Captain, including the Round the World and the TransAtlantic Record. Designed by famed naval architects Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin and built in 1998 by Cookson in New Zealand, Cheyenne was the first of a brand-new class of multihulls, designed to attack major ocean records. With Fossett as skipper, Cheyenne has broken 14 World Records including the Transatlantic at 4 days 17 hours and the Round the World at 58 days 9 hours.

“I am delighted that Cheyenne will be on the start line for this new and exciting race”, said Fossett. “It is sad that I will not be able to participate myself but have already committed to attempt the First Solo Non-stop Round the World Airplane Flight in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. With Scully at the helm, Cheyenne and its crew will relish this new test against such tough competition and I believe she is a strong contender to take the trophy and prize.”

QISE CEO Tracy Edwards MBE commented: “We are absolutely thrilled that Steve has decided to enter Cheyenne into the Oryx Quest 2005. She is one of the best-known catamarans and her entry will add real competitive edge to the event. It will be the first time ever that this group of yachts will race against each other. We have always been confident that we would have at least four boats at the start line on the 5 February but it is especially wonderful to welcome Cheyenne on board. It further underlines the enormity and importance of this sailing event for the future of maxi multihulls in Qatar.”

Currently in-dock in Plymouth, UK, and in excellent sailing condition, Cheyenne is being shipped by cargo to Doha before the end of December 2004.