19.03.2004
Geronimo - We're honoured...
After a day spent further North than she would have liked as a result of westerly winds, and having covered a very reasonable 461 nautical miles including one gybe, Geronimo is now galloping fast towards Australia. As forecast, the wind has swung around to the northwest and the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran is surfing back on a heading of over 100° towards the Howling Fifties. With so many options available, it wasn't a simple passage.
"The sea's good, it's getting a bit bigger, but we're surfing well" said the skipper, who was also singing the praises of the work done by his weather router Pierre Lasnier and the valuable contribution made by Alain Lamal and the team of observers on the Kerguelen Islands. "Alain has been working on the Kerguelens for nearly 30 years and we meet when he comes to the Institut Polaire in Brest. These guys have a special feel for their region of the world -a very realistic analysis and an important one for us". The crew is now well beyond the Kerguelen Islands and all they evoke for our Breton mariners, including "Aventure aux Kerguelen" by Raymond Rallier du Baty; the story of a tuna fisherman from Concarneau who went to Desolation Island to catch seals and sell the oil in Australia. "The island is quite beautiful - hostile, of course, but beautiful in this ocean where there is nothing of any note..."
Since the fog lifted, and with it the stress, the crew has been enjoying the chance to sail in full daylight and can finally appreciate the beauty around them: "We're honoured with all the colours that make this part of the world so irresistible. Skies so blue they're almost black, and golden clouds…". Which pretty well describes the world through which Geronimo has covered 270 nautical miles in the first half of this Friday.
Geronimo's latest news are on http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com
Positions - DAY 22
GERONIMO
46°08S - 68°25E
461 nautical miles in 24 hours, at an average speed of 19.22 knots
Distance to Cape Leeuwin: 1856 nautical miles
2002 Record
40°40S - 47°06E
396 nautical miles in 24 hours, at an average speed of 16.52 knots
Distance to Cape Leeuwin: 2822 nautical miles
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