Grands Records - Geronimo Going South In A Thick Fog
15 March 18:12

The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran crossed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope at 22:15 GMT yesterday, one day ahead of the current record. She will now continue further south as she heads for the Kerguelen Islands.

On her 18th day at sea, she covered 411 nautical miles on an easterly heading, averaging 17.13 knots point-to-point in a day full of gibing. She was still having to progress in zigzag fashion along a relatively narrow corridor between the slack winds of the high pressure region to the north and the threat of icebergs to the south. The first 12 hours of the day saw her pick up speed and Geronimo is now taking the risk of moving further south with a good wind angle. Having covered 286 nautical miles in 12 hours, the average speed for the day should be approaching 24 knots. Air and sea temperatures are falling in tandem, and all eyes are on the radar, because the 11-man crew are now surrounded by thick fog which sometimes conceals everything beyond the bows of the boat. Tomorrow night, they will pass near the point where the catamaran Cheyenne reported seeing the first icebergs.

The coming days should see Geronimo taking a more southerly route, allowing her to tick off the degrees of longitude even faster. However, together with the ice comes a second potential problem, as unusual sea states seem to be emerging. Weather observers on the Kerguelen Islands have been in touch with Geronimo by phone and have recently measured wind speeds of up to 70 knots. It is likely that the depression Geronimo is following is raising a sea too rough for smooth surfing.

DAY 18

GERONIMO (Cap Gemini / Schneider Electric)
44.26°S - 18°52W
411 nautical miles in 24 hours, at an average of 17.13 knots

2002 record
38°31S - 10°56W
529.97 nautical miles in 24 hours, at an average of 22.08 knots

Geronimo's latest news are on http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com