Geronimo due to set Transpac record tonight

Skipper Olivier de Kersauson worries about light winds approaching Diamond Head at end of Transpac record

At 0043GMT this morning Geronimo had 257 miles to go before she crossed the finish line of her Transpac record attempt. On board the crew are now expecting a fast finish as they head towards the finish of what will be their third successful sailing record attempt in six months.

Over the last 12 hours due to having to tack and head south east toward Hawaii, boat has speed decreased and the atmosphere on board has been tense as the crew have watched and waited. The latest report from on board Geronimo is that they have hooked into the trade winds off Hawaii and because they are still north they have the optimum wind angle now to sail fast. They are currently travelling at 25 knots to cover the remaining miles to the finish line Diamond Head, Honolulu. Her finish time is estimated as 1am local time (US Hawaii) Friday November 18 or 1100GMT.

Bruno Peyron's record for the 2,225 mile long Transpac course currently stands at 5 days, 9 hours, 18 minutes and 26 seconds.

"The tension is rising this morning under the beautiful summer light which makes the light blue of the ocean shine," reported skipper Olivier de Kersauson. "The wind is inconsistent and at the chart table, it is obvious that the worst as well as the best results are still possible. Actually there is very little wind on the islands and what there is is from a difficult direction. Thinking about the calm of the departure, I just cannot swallow: what a nightmare! In most cases, the arrivals are clear, with the weather not so difficult. 24 hours before we arrive we usually know that it is good or not and we can start secretly to celebrate and enjoy the last hours of a well done job. This can ease the tension, lightens the tiredness in a happy whisper. For us today, none of this. The heart of the crew will beat following the wind changes up to the Diamond Head arrival and Waikiki Beach. We will have to live and deal with all the possibilities. Imagine a marathon runner seeing the road becoming longer and longer as he runs to the finish, a javelin champion who feels a secret hand slowing down his arm, or a high jumper who sees the bar rising as he runs to the jump. This is what we are about to live, I know each of us is locked in our own silence. Do not watch the watch, concentrate on the route, the angle, the speed. Don't look at anything else, then, all of a sudden, it may happen, we can do it. But that is another story..."

Geronimo started this attempt at 19:05:03GMT on 13 November so has until tomorrow (19 November) at 04:23:29 to finish.