Sailing: Blake's 24-hour record

ENZA New Zealand yesterday claimed a world record, having covered 520.9 miles in 24 hours. She is now four days ahead of schedule in the first stage of an attempt to break Bruno Peyron's non-stop round the world record of 79 days 6 hours.

Co-skippered by the New Zealander Peter Blake and Britain's Robin Knox-Johnston, the 92ft catamaran demolished the record of 425 miles set in December by Intrum Justitia on leg two of the Whitbread Round the World Race.

The crew received an effusive fax from the World Sailing Speed Council: 'Enormous congratulations. . . if ratified, this would have to be recognised as the greatest authentic day's run in history.'

Yesterday, ENZA reached the first critical stage of the route - day 10 - 980 miles ahead of her target distance. Having passed through the difficult conditions of the Doldrums Blake and crew were positioned south of the equator.

Round the World race, page 45