Steve Fossett was last night on course to shatter the record for the fastest crossing from Newport to Bermuda.

The American millionaire adventurer was being swept along by 23-knot westerly winds early yesterday and by 7.00 p.m. Bermuda time, just over 30 hours after leaving the United States, he was 140 miles off the Island.

The 54-year-old's primary aim is to reach the finishing point off St. David's inside the existing record time of 53 hours, 46 minutes and 10 seconds.

Those figures were set by by Jean-Pierre Mouligne in his 50-foot sloop Cray Valley in November, 1996.

But before setting out in his 60-foot trimaran Lakota , Fossett told friends he believed he could complete the 635-mile voyage in under 48 hours -- and last night he appeared set fair on a course to meet his target and make history.

In a message to his back-up team on land, Fossett said last night: "It's been wonderful sailing so far, but there's been a lot of work with sail changes.

"The winds could get lighter and more variable as I get closer, so my best estimated time of arrival is 8.00 a.m.'' If Fossett managed to arrive at that time, he would have completed the 635-mile crossing in just 43 and a half hours, more than 10 hours inside the existing record.

Local skipper Colin Couper, a veteran of the Newport-to-Bermuda race, who will be competing in the Marion-to-Bermuda race in two weeks' time, wished Fossett well.

"I think he (Fossett) is the type of guy, who, when the challenge is out there, likes to take it,'' said Couper.

"It's nice to see him try and it's exciting and I hope he does it. I think he has a pretty good chance in a multihull boat.

"But with the weather as it is at the moment, I think he'll run into a high pressure area when he gets near to the Island and that is bound to slow him down a bit.'' But Couper added that it would not be fair to compare whatever time Fossett achieves with the best times set in the biennial race over the same route.

The race record time is 57 hours, 31 minutes and 50 seconds, set in June, 1996, by the 80-foot maxi-yacht Boomerang .

Multihulls like Fossett's trimaran are not eligible to take part in the race, which is solely for monohulls.

Couper said: "It's like comparing apples to oranges -- it's a whole different ball game. Monohulls are clearly not as fast as multihulls.'' Though Fossett is sailing with no crew, he will need help to bring his craft into port at St. George's tomorrow.

Brian Thompson, a member of the adventurer's regular sailing team, flew out from the US to Bermuda yesterday and will borrow a boat to go out and meet Fossett to help him guide Lakota safely into the harbour. Fossett will then arrive at the Customs Dock.

Thompson said Fossett had timed his voyage to take advantage of favourable weather conditions and hoped to stay in front of a cold front coming off the eastern seaboard of the US, providing strong south-westerly winds to drive him on towards Bermuda.

He aimed to follow, as closely as possible, the route of the Newport-to-Bermuda race.

The current record-holder Mouligne averaged a speed of 14 knots when he made the fastest crossing to date in swells of up to 25 feet.

But he sailed well east of the most direct route, extending his voyage to a total of 760 miles.

How soon Fossett hits the high pressure and the accompanying lighter winds close to the Island will be crucial.

After completing his record attempt, Fossett, who made five failed attempts to become the first man to circumnavigate the globe in a hot-air balloon, intends to spend a few days relaxing on the Island.

Fossett and Lakota broke a record last year, completing the 2,120 miles between San Francisco and Hanelai Bay, Kaui, in seven days, 22 hours and 38 minutes, the best time recorded in the 20-year history of the Singlehanded TransPac race.

His previous adventurous jaunts have included swimming the English Channel and the Bosporus.