Jules Verne Trophy - Close Encounter Of The Third Kind

Yesterday evening, the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran completed her third racing day having covered 370 nautical miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 15.4 knots. Slowed by very unstable low wind conditions off Madeira, the crew couldn’t have dreamed of doing any better. Salvation came in the shape of a fairly radical western option, “The front was progressing more slowly than forecast, so we had to go and meet it. We had our hearts in our mouths...”, says Olivier. Good work then from Geronimo’s weather team, and all praise to the crew for having the nerve to take a risk and route 80° off the direct track. This morning, Geronimo had picked up the first hints of the trade winds and accelerated spectacularly to clock up an average of over 21 knots over the last twelve hours.

At sunrise came a spectacular pre-planned meeting. The powered trimaran Ocean Alchemist had left the Canaries the previous evening to try and film Geronimo on her way south. Following a maxi multihull making over 25 knots in mid-ocean was quite a challenge, but one that will leave the passengers and preparation team members on board with some unforgettable memories. The members of Geronimo’s shore team were able to see the fruit of their long months of hard work at full power and just a few metres in front of them – a sight no one has ever seen before.

Position Day 3	Lat	Long	Distance covered in 24 hours (nm)	Average speed
Geronimo	32°41N	21°54W	370	15,4
Orange	29°06N	20°47W	442	18,4 knots

 

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