Behind

A better day's run for Geronimo, but that is the last of the good news

Day 53
Position at 2317GMT: 04°49S 30°50W
24 hour run: 444.80 nm
Average speed: 18.53 knots

With a crossing of the Doldrums likely tomorrow afternoon, the news today from Olivier de Kersauson's Geronimo is once again mixed. The good news is that today the maxi-trimaran has been basking in welcome 15-20 knot reaching conditions that have enabled her to pull out her first 400+ mile in 10 days.

Unfortunately there is considerably more bad news. Despite her more respectible run today, she is now roughly 100 miles behind Orange's relative position and some 1,260 miles behind Cheyenne's equivalent end of day 53 position. Ahead lie the Doldrums and making a speedy passage across it will be vital for the crew if they are to stand any chance of at least breaking Orange's time around the world. To fail to achieve this for the second year in a row might be more than even the tenacious de Kersauson can endure.