Virtual reality

Crossing the North Atlantic in a little over four days under sail/// and the next step is both obvious and 'absolutely possible', says Orange II navigator Roger Nilson

At 1924 GMT on 6 July we cross the outer end of the finishing line, 1.5nm off Lizard Point. The evening light is magical with a dusty, reddish sunset as the lighthouse starts to spread its yellow fingers across the darkening waters. A French TV helicopter is hanging in behind us but otherwise nobody is around. Sorry, I forgot Roger Armstrong from the World Speed Record Council (WSSRC) who is sitting just south of the lighthouse, stopwatch in hand. It feels like we are about to finish a Fastnet Race or a Round Gotland. We are all totally exhausted as the stress has been extreme to get back this record. A stress that has not been helped by the fact that the port rudder has been falling apart since we hit a UFO a day and 19 hours into the record.

The big gennaker is rolled up and the nose of the big cat is pointed in the direction of Ushant and we are on our way back home. Back to Bruno's home town of La Baule where a large reception is arranged for the following day..

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