PlayStation (yacht)
PlayStation is one of several large catamarans created for the 2000 around the world race known as The Race. Like its competitors, PlayStation was created for sheer speed, pushing the state of the art in materials, construction, and operation. PlayStation was skippered and owned by Steve Fossett.
Contents
Construction
She was built by Mick Cookson of Cookson Boatworks in Auckland, New Zealand in 1998 to 1999. Her construction was pre-preg carbon fiber laminates in various orientations, with a 38 mm aluminum honeycomb core.
After breaking the 24 hour distance record (583 NM) she suffered a fire while being prepared to be shipped to the US. The cause of the fire was the over-charging of her NiMH batteries, and the damage from the fire required that 26' of her starboard hull be replaced. Remarkably, a portion of the hull was created at the builders which was grafted to the original bow and stern leaving virtually no evidence of the fire.
PlayStation was originally launched with hulls of 105 feet (32 m) and was lengthened to 125 feet (38 m) LOA in August 2000, to minimize pitching. At 105 feet (32 m) PlayStation was overpowered and the possibility of a pitch pole in a yacht this size warranted the refit. Maximum beam remains at 60 feet (18 m) and max draft with daggerboards down is 14.7 feet (4.5 m). She carries 7,274 square feet (676 m2) of sail upwind, and a total of 11,631 square feet (1,081 m2) downwind from her 147.5 foot carbon mast.
Achievements
- Transatlantic record of in a time of 4 days, 17 hours, 28 minutes, and 6 seconds in October 2001, with a total distance of 2,925 nautical miles (5,417 km) at an average speed of 25.78 knots.[1]
- The 24 hour distance run of 687.17 nautical miles (1,272.64 km) at an average speed of 28.63 knots in 2001.[2]
- The round the world sailing record of 58 days 9 hours 32 minutes and 45 seconds in 2004. PlayStation was renamed Cheyenne in 2003, prior to setting this record. [3]
The former records have all been broken.
Performance in "The Race"
Playstation suffered mechanical failures from the get-go in "The Race," and withdrew from the competition on Day 16.
References
- The Steve Fossett Challenge
- Morelli & Melvin Design & Engineering
- Steve Fosset's PlayStation article from Latitude 38 magazine
See also
External links
- Adventure of a Lifetime - A talk by Chuck Hawley, who sailed on the Playstation
