Back ahead

But big weather forecast for Geronimo over the weekend

Day 22
Position at 2317GMT: 46°32S 70°25 E
24 hour run: 461.30 miles
Average speed: 19.22 knots

In the virtual race around the globe between the world's fastest offshore sailing yachts, Geronimo has once again pulled ahead of Steve Fossett's Cheyenne. While Geronimo had a good day covering 460.30 miles in the 24 hours up until 2317 this evening Cheyenne covered 397 miles over 23 hours. As a result the French Cap Gemini Schneider Electric-sponsored tri is now roughly 110 miles ahead. Geronimo is now more than 1,000 miles ahead of Orange's 2002 record.

Weatherwise Geronimo is just about to fall off the back of the Southern Ocean depression they have been riding since getting into the Southern Ocean. With a high pressure cruising east to the north of the Kerguelens, today they will see the wind backing to the southwest before returning to the west then the north west. To get away from the clutches of the high it is still likely that skipper Olivier de Kersauson will head south again after passing the Kerguelens but probably not that far south as by Sunday a powerful fast moving Southern Ocean depression is due to come flying up from the south bring with it 40-50 knot winds. De Kersauson will be keen to keep his distance from this and thus probably won't duck below 50degS.