Yokohama to Hong Kong

Geronimo establishes new passage record

At 11:42:'07' local time (03:42:'07 GMT) on Sunday, 7 May 2006, the maxi-trimaran Geronimo flying the colors of Capgemini and Schneider Electric, crossed the finish line on its record and time-setting passage between Yokohama, Japan and Hong Kong. This new 1,650 mile course she covered n a total time of 4 days, 17 hours, 47 minutes and 23 seconds.

Geronimo's Pacific East-to-West record established last week between San Francisco and Yokohama, the WSSRC agreed to establish a new time-challenge from Yokohama to Hong Kong. As these racing opportunities in the Pacific and Asia continue to beckon, Olivier de Kersauson and his team continue to respond, this time also looking forward to the gracious invitation of being hosted by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club after establishing the new time-record.

Skipper Olivier de Kersauson commented: "We had only just established a new 14-day record sailing the Pacific and only four days after our arrival in Japan, we felt compelled to try this new course as a satisfactory window for sailing opened up. But just as soon as it came, it passed.

"The winds started to weaken unrelentingly until suddenly, they disappeared. This happens sometimes. It lasted two days! Geronimo made the best of troubling winds that varied 2 to 12 knots from one hour to the next. All the while, we experienced an overpowering heat which made the boat a furnace. No matter what, these conditions will put you in a mood to hurry to arrive!".

Yet, for de Kersauson and the other seven crew, light winds for a few days doesn't make the course any less complex and interesting. "We crossed various weather systems and because specific and particular weather data is much rarer in this region than we are used to, we must rely on instinct. Having experienced weather difficulties at the end of our record last week, and having watched similar occurrences experienced in the Asian seas by Ellen MacArthur, we knew we must make the attempt this week.

"Ultimately, in my opinion, our final time into Hong Kong does not truly represent Geronimo's potential on this course, but as in all new challenges, one needs a 'first' to establish precedent. It's a thrill to establish a new path, a way of blazing a trail; if you will, it's like connecting civilizations and men between them. One still discovers; one always learns. It is a great luxury nowadays to be able still to be filled with wonder."

After a very busy schedule since the end of March which began with three weeks of work to get Geronimo up to peak performance for her three recent challenges (LA-Honolulu, San Francisco-Yokohama and Japan-Hong Kong), the crew now looks forward to celebrating some well-deserved R&R and will enjoy the many pleasures of Hong Kong. This evening Geronimo’s team will raise a glass their new friends at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in a formal reception.

Geronimo will remain for 10 days in Hong Kong before heading back to Yokohama for an attempt at another Pacific record from west to east towards San Francisco.

The crew:
Olivier de Kersauson
Didier Ragot
Jean Charles Corre
Lucas Zamecnik
Xavier Douin
Antoine Deru
Philippe Laot
Raphaël Blot

More photos on page 2...