Olivier de Kersauson's 112ft trimaran Geronimo continues her storming assault on the 64 day Jules Verne record with another day's run of over 500 miles as she dives south again and passes the half way mark, well on track to finish the challenge in as little as 60 days. Despite being battered by storms and being forced north when south of Australia the maxi tri has kept up good speed, at one point touching 40 knots, and has now entered the Pacific Ocean in style. Those Around Alone boats that left New Zealand on Sunday had been keep watch in their rear view mirrors.

Meanwhile it's a less happy story for Kingfisher 2 as Ellen MacArthur spends all day cooped up in the nav station. communicating with weather expert Meeno Schrader and trying to find a way out of the high pressure labyrinth that is dominating the South Atlantic. K2 covered 266 miles is the last 24 hours and the outlook for the next few days does not give rise to much hope of more wind, with 3 - 12 knot breezes forecast.

Geronimo will also have the advantage over Kingfisher when she turns the corner at Cape Horn and enters the last lap, as trimarans are faster in the lighter headwinds that can be expected for the run up the Atlantic.
Yachting World, 11 February 2003