Day and a half to go

Geronimo 786 miles from Transpac record course finish line

Over the last 24 hours the Capgemini and Schneider Electric-sponsored trimaran Geronimo has been eating up the miles as her Franco-American crew pull out all the stops to break the current Transpac course record that since 1997 has stood at five days, nine hours, 18 minutes and 26 seconds.

Updated information received from on board Geronimo is that for the four hours from 1317-1701 on 16 November UTC the maxi-trimaran had covered 86.25 miles averaging 23 knots boat speed point to point.

At 21:29GMT this evening the giant ocean record breaker had 786 miles to go to reach the finish line off Honolulu and if the team can maintain a 14.80 knots average boat speed from their current location to the finish line they will have their third speed sailing record in the bag in four months.

Having averaged 19.20 knots boat speed since the start, skipper Olivier de Kersauson and his crew may set a record with an average boat speed above 20 knots, giving them one of the top five fastest sailing speed records ever.

Olivier de Kersauson commented: ‘We have irregular and variable winds; not very good for our nerves. Far from the forecasts which are not very appetizing anyway. Last night was from the 1001 Knights tales. The moon was serene and played on the sea, splendid. The tension on board is rising; we will have to find a way on this ocean of incertitude...’

The crew has to decide when will be the optimum time to gybe and head in a more southerly direction from their current course. The weather they are currently experiencing is unstable and the breeze is lightening in strength due the approach of a high pressure system from the east.

Cam Lewis one of the two US crew members onboard Geronimo for the Los Angeles to Honolulu Challenge, commented: "Action-flying over the moonlit ocean last night at speeds up to 30 knots was magical, beyond words. Elegant sailing out here on the world’s fastest trimaran - smoking hot sailing with a full mainsail, big gennaker and staysail up and spray flying off the leeward bow. The full moon sailing this week can’t be beaten, crew smiling, long glides down the swells - speeds start and average - around 22 knots when and if you hit the waves right - keeping the bows down hill - averages can be sustained in the 26 knots range with highs to 30, its only blowing 22 on average – MAGICAL. Plus I get to parlez in my best sailing Fringlish. Now we just have to get the last 800 plus miles south. The hardest parts are behind us. We push on safe, fast and having fun sailing fast boats fast. Great team on Geronimo, pleasure to sail with this professional crew and the boss - Olivier - everything is perfect, nothing broken, looking forward to a surf and swim at Waikiki."