to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon, enjoyed success in a much different vessel yesterday -- slashing almost 13 hours off the record for the fastest ocean crossing from Newport to Bermuda.

Sailing his 50-foot trimaran Lakota single-handed, the 54-year-old Chicago millionaire entered St. George's Harbour shortly after 5 a.m. yesterday, just 40 hours and 51 minutes after his departure from Rhode Island.

The previous record of 53 hours and 46 minutes had been set back in November, 1996, by Jean-Pierre Mouligne in his 50-foot customised sloop Cray Valley .

"There was some hard sailing but never anything I was worried about. There was a fair amount of sailing in 25-knot winds and you have to stay on your toes when you're going that fast,'' said Fossett after he emerged from his guest house in St. George's yesterday afternoon following much-needed sleep.

During the two-day crossing, Fossett had managed just one hour of sleep as he looked to capitalise on the strong winds.

Full story, see Page 17