Silicon Valley entrepreneur sets trans-Atlantic sailing mark

A Silicon Valley entrepreneur has broken the trans-Atlantic monohull record by more than a day in sailing from New York to England.

Jim Clark's 100-foot Comanche covered the 2,880 nautical miles in 5 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes, 25 seconds. Comanche passed Lizard Point just after midnight local time. The old record was 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes, 39 seconds by Mari Cha IV in 2003.

Comanche's mark must be ratified by the World Speed Sailing Council.

''Comanche was built to break ocean records and the guys have once again powered our fantastic fat-bottomed girl to another title,'' said Clark, who founded Netscape and Silicon Graphics.

Comanche had been on standby for a number of weeks waiting for optimum conditions to slingshot across the Atlantic. The experienced team left New York on Friday evening.

With skipper Ken Read committed to TV commentating at the America's Cup World Series in England, the crew was led by Casey Smith, Tony Mutter, Richard Clarke and navigator Stan Honey.

Read said the record was the culmination of six years of work by a huge team of experts offshore and onshore. ''I never had any doubt this crew would deliver the goods - the boat was in perfect condition and the only thing that would scupper the record would be Mother Nature,'' Read said. ''Luckily she didn't throw a spanner in the works and this team has once again proven why they are some of the best in the business.''