Grands Records - In The Worst Part Of The Indian Ocean
20 March 20:30

Paris, 20 March (AFP) – French sailor Olivier de Kersauson, who set off 23 days ago in pursuit of the Jules Verne Trophy (the crewed round-the-world record) with a 10-man crew on board Geronimo, is now in the most challenging part of the Indian Ocean, between the Kerguelen Islands and Australia.

Today, Saturday, the boat’s position was 49° 03'S, 81° 01E, which puts her some three days ahead of the time set by current record holder Bruno Peyron with the catamaran Orange of 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes, 24 seconds.

The next "hurdle" will be the longitude of Cape Leeuwin, the south-western tip of Australia, at 115° 10'E, which is some 1312 nautical miles (2429.8 kilometres) from Geronimo’s current position. If he can keep up the speed he has shown in recent days, de Kersauson could cross this meridian in the daylight hour of Tuesday. Last year, at the helm of the same giant trimaran, he covered the distance from Ushant to Cape Leeuwin in 26 days, 4 hours, 53 minutes, 13 seconds.

Geronimo is slightly ahead of the time set by Steve Fossett on his 23rd day at sea, with the catamaran Cheyenne.
Fossett is also out to beat Bruno Peyron’s record, but not within the rules of the Jules Verne Trophy. This Saturday, after 42 days at sea, Cheyenne was northwest of the Falkland Islands on his way home through the South Atlantic.

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