Sir Richard Branson and double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie are on standby in New York to begin a Transatlantic Record Attempt aboard the 100ft supermaxi yacht Virgin Money (formerly Speedboat). With a potential weather window approaching, the crew hopes to set sail early tomorrow morning with TEAMORIGIN’s Team Director Mike Sanderson as skipper. Sanderson, who holds the current transatlantic record of 6 days, 27 hours and 52 minutes, will lead the crew, which includes Sir Richard Branson’s children Holly and Sam.

With a potential start from North Cove Marina, New York, tomorrow at dawn, Virgin Money’s record attempt will be Ben Ainslie’s first transatlantic voyage. Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN’s America’s Cup helmsman, will be on the wheel as the boat passes Ambrose Light, and the clock starts. The course will take them through treacherous winter conditions in the North Atlantic before finishing at Lizard Point, off the coast of Plymouth. Mike Sanderson has held the transatlantic record since 2003, when he broke the previous record aboard Mari Cha IV.