Virgin Money transatlantic record attempt

Sir Richard Branson joins Mike Sanderson and Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie in New York tomorrow on the 100-foot racing machine Speedboat, renamed Virgin Money for the occasion, in an attempt to break the transatlantic sailing record.

They are hoping for a dawn start from North Cove Marina to pick up a favourable weather system as they cross the start line at Ambrose Light and head for the traditional finish line off the Lizard, near Plymouth.

It was Sanderson, now sailing director of Britain's America's Cup challenger, Origin, who, in 2003, set the record of 6 days 17hr 52min on the 140-foot Mari Cha IV. It will be Ainslie's, who made it three golds and a silver at the China Olympics, first transatlantic trip. He is also Sanderson's skipper at Origin.