Round-the-world in just 58 days!

Fossett's 125-foot (38-metre) maxi-catamaran Cheyenne crossed the finishing line off Brittany, France, in 58 days, nine hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds, said John Bee, a spokesman for his Fossett Challenge team.

Fossett's time was five days, 23 hours, four minutes and 39 seconds faster than the Frenchman Bruno Peyron took in his boat Orange in 2002.

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The 59-year-old former businessman's time remained subject to official ratification.

Cheyenne left Plymouth, on the southwest coast of England, on February 7 and reached the Isle of Ouessant to cross an imaginary finish line on Monday at 1443 GMT.

Fossett said the atmosphere on board was euphoric.

"Everyone is just so happy - we are all emotionally drained," he told his team headquarters by satellite phone.

"Its quite a celebration. Everybody on this crew is absolutely delighted, this is a satisfying moment for all of us.

"When we started out I thought the chance was 50-50 that we would get around. Then I wondered that the boat might not be fast enough."

Peyron immediately sent his congratulations to Fossett.