Two Britons lifted off from a golf course in Almeria, southern Spain, yesterday in the latest attempt to fly non-stop around the world in a hot-air balloon.
The balloon team, sponsored by British communications group Cable and Wireless plc, was headed south-west towards the Canary Islands to catch a subtropical jet stream that would then carry them over Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Egypt on the first leg of a journey that could last up to three weeks.
"It was a perfect launch into beautiful blue skies and they're heading out to sea," a C&W spokeswoman said.
"We can only feel we have a very good chance," said Ian Ashpole, the team's flight director, in an interview in Britain.
"We're keeping an open mind, since you can never guarantee anything. This hasn't been done before. We're planning for the guys to have very safe flight and to go round the world," he added.
C&W balloon team engineers worked all night to inflate the giant balloon, which carries an enclosed capsule to protect the pilots from freezing cold while cruising around 33,000 feet.
About 200 cheering spectators were on hand for lift-off, which was delayed for several hours to take advantage of more favourable winds.
The pilots, Andy Elson (45) and Colin Prescot (48), are both experienced balloonists and have set several previous records.
Some 20 earlier attempts to circle the globe have failed, the most recent by British tycoon, Richard Branson, and American Steve Fosset, who came down in the Pacific on December 25th.
Elson and Prescot face extra difficulties because they have to manoeuvre to avoid China's air space.
China has put a ban on British balloons crossing its territory since December, when Branson and Fosset accidentally drifted into a forbidden area.
As a result, C&W's shiny, silver-coloured craft had to be modified to carry an extra two tonnes of kerosene fuel to allow it to steer clear of China. Flying at an average speed of 130 kph, the balloon is due to pass over North Africa, India and Hong Kong before crossing the Pacific and entering the US.
It is to then pass over the Atlantic in an effort to touch down somewhere in the Mediterranean region. Eighty solar panels provide power for the balloon's batteries.
Weather is expected to be a key factor for the C&W attempt. Elson and Prescot's round-the-world attempt is one of at least six now being prepared.