Round-the-globe odyssey defeated by weather
Regional-International, People, 12/26/1998

Britain's Richard Branson on Friday saw his dream to circle the globe non-stop in a helium balloon shatter as he hit a weather trough over the Pacific Ocean.

The ICO Global Challenge balloon, carrying Branson, Swedish balloonist Per Lindstrand and American Steve Fossett, landed near Honolulu on Friday evening.

Speaking from the balloon capsule, Branson said, "I am sorry that it is now all over. We raced across the Pacific in winds of up to 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers per hour) but ended up hitting a solid trough from one end to the other."

Unfavorable weather conditions had also been pushing the balloon in the wrong direction, south rather than east across the Pacific Ocean.

The changing weather conditions beat Branson and his crew because as the balloon lost speed it sank too low to regain the necessary altitude and was running out of the fuel needed to keep it aloft and heat the cabin.

The balloon left Morocco on December 18 and the team crossed the halfway point Thursday.

Both Branson and Fossett have failed in previous bids for the record.

Fossett crashed in the Coral Sea off northeast Australia during an attempt earlier this year while in 1996 Branson made a forced landing in Algeria less than 24 hours after take-off.

Last year his balloon broke free from its moorings while it was being inflated.

Previous Stories:
  Branson Faces Difficulties In China   (12/22/1998)
  Branson floats towards the Himalayas   (12/21/1998)
  Branson and Fossett take-off from Morocco on new world tour challenge   (12/18/1998)

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