Catch the cat

Geronimo is now two days away from Cape Horn

Day 39
Position at 2317GMT: 58°44S 93°23W
24hr run: 385.15nm
Average speed: 16.05 knots

Over the weekend Olivier de Kersauson and his team on board Geronimo have been heading deep south in this, potentially one of the most treacherous parts of the world's oceans, to avoid running out of breeze. The latest position report shows her down to 58deg44S. The two most recent attempts on the round the world record saw both Cheyenne and Geronimo last year sailing much further north. At a comparible longitude Cheyenne was at 53degS, while Geronimo last year was at 52degS, while earlier attempts saw the boats heading deep south - Orange in 2002 was at 57degS, Sport Elec in 1997 was at 56degS while ENZA New Zealand back in 1994 was playing with the penguins at 61deg34S.

At present de Kersauson is some 860 miles or two days sailing away from Cape Horn and has reduced Cheyenne's relative lead to 530 miles or just over a day. While Geronimo has been doing reasonably well over the weekend scoring daily runs since Friday of 496, 443 and 385 up until 2317GMT tonight her catching up Cheyenne has more to do with the American maxi-cat being slow over this period as she attempted to reach Cape Horn.