Recovering

More dilemmas, this time for Geronimo, now back on track to Cape Horn after southerly buster

Day 34
Position at 2317GMT: 50°20S 157°09W
24 hour run: 461.68 miles
Average speed: 19.24 knots

Boat and crew having received a beating from the southerly gale over the last few days, heading north back into the Roaring (but slightly more clement) Forties has allowed Geronimo and her crew some respite from the conditions and if the forecast wind chart is correct is looks like the wind may have veered round to the southwest for them. With the wind from the south it was on the beam and on a multihull, especially a trimaran, this can take its toll on the structure with waves having the potential to crash squarely onto each of the three hulls.

Having made it up to 48deg 32 yesterday the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric sponsored trimaran has over the last 24 hours resumed her course to Cape Horn once again, taking her back into the Furious Fifties.

The conditions over the last few days have not helped their progress against Steve Fossett's Cheyenne - their end of day 34 position is some 1,183 miles behind that of the American super-cat. They are still roughly 980 miles ahead of Orange's 2002 Jules Verne record.

The fun is not over yet for Geronimo as an unusual area of high pressure standing in the way of their course to the Horn (between longitudes 110 and 92degW) and this may see the French trimaran having to dive south as far as 57 or 58deg in order to avoid it. This solution could work well for Geronimo as it will enable them to sail much closer to the great circle course, reducing the mileage they have to cover.