Steve Fossett and crew sailing aboard the 125ft catamaran PlayStation aborted their attempt at the 24 Hour Speed Record earlier today. Team PlayStation set off from Norfolk, Virginia yesterday at 2200 GMT in an attempt to break the24 Hour Speed Record which currently stands at 694.78 nautical miles, set in June 2002 by Maiden 2 (co-skippered by Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid and Adrienne Cahalan). However, a 15 degree shift and drop in wind forced them to quit.

Fossett commented from the boat: “After a fast start, the wind shifted 15 degrees and dropped from 26 knots to 20 knots. This greatly slowed our progress and a 24 Hour Record is not feasible this time. For this record, everything must be right. We are turning south and bracing ourselves for a pasting by the storm front following closely behind us.”

Fossett and crew are currently heading back to Virginia which will take at least two days. From there they will review the situation and decide when to set off again.