Heading for Rio

Now into the northeasterly trades, Geronimo suffers without her Solent

Day 48
Position at 2317GMT: 28°34S 41°11W
24 hour run: 268nm
Average speed: 11.16 knots

Olivier de Kersauson and the crew of Geronimo have had another day of light winds in the South Atlantic but are now out of the grip of the high pressure system, now to their south west and into more consistent northeasterly which the wind radar charts confirm to be blowing at around 10 knots.

Looking at Geronimo's position relative to compared to those for the end of day 48 for Cheyenne and Orange, she is currently 780 miles astern of Cheyenne and has extended her lead over Orange's 2002 record run to 240 miles.

While 10 knots from the northeast should be all Geronimo needs to be screaming north making up ground on her rivals their Solent, the headsail they would use in these conditions is at present unusable and they are having to crack off to use the gennikers instead. As a result it is likely that we will see Geronimo heading a long way into towards Rio de Janiero over the course of the next 24 hours on the favoured starboard tack, although the forecast charts indicated that the further west they go the more headed they will be, whereas directly north the wind is set to veer favourably around to the east.