Virgin's DareDevil Richard Branson to attempt Sailing Record...

Select Language Chinese Arabic French German Italian Japanese Korean Portuguese Russian Spanish English

The most daredevil CEO is at it again...

Sir Richard Branson, the 'Virgin Guy' has set records in balloons, powerboats and even climbing mountains...and now he is aiming to make the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in a mono-hull sailing yacht.


But this time the business of chasing speed records involves his family too...

On this trip, he'll be accompanied by his 26-year-old daughter, Holly, a physician who will serve as the team's medic, and 23-year-old son, Sam.

MAKING AND BREAKING RECORDS...

On one end, while Virgin makes some of the most popular music records internationally...Sir Richard Branson has a affinity to break some of the best speed records.

The chairman of the Virgin Group announced Thursday that he's preparing to break the record for a trans-Atlantic crossing in a single-hulled sailboat, which currently stands at six days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds.


He called the record "the greatest sailing record of all" and said that when he got a call a few weeks ago to participate in the adventure, "I realized I couldn't resist."

It will be attempt made when the weather is fine - and shall start from the Ambrose Lighthouse, just south of New York City, to Lizard Point in Britain.

'VIRGIN MONEY'

Branson, who set his last record in 2004 by making the fastest crossing of the English Channel in an amphibious vehicle, said he will partner with the sailing squad from Britain's America's Cup challenger TeamOrigin. Three members of TeamOrigin recently won gold medals at Beijing Olympics.

The sailing yacht is called 'Virgin Money'...

PAST ATTEMPTS

The airline and music entrepreneur made news in 1986 when he powered a speedboat across the Atlantic Ocean in record time, breaking a mark that had stood for 34 years.

He went on to set records while piloting hot air balloons across the Atlantic and Pacific, and tried for years to become one of the first balloonists to circumnavigate the globe.

The daredevil tycoon also has jumped out of planes and climbed astride elephants to promote his Virgin Atlantic Airways.

All the Best, Richard Branson...