02.06.2006
Pacific record from West to East: Weak low pressure area for Geronimo
After more than four days of racing in their attempt to smash the Pacific record from West to East, Olivier de Kersauson and his 8 men have covered more than 1600 miles since starting out from Japan. In spite of the good average speeds they have achieved over the past two days, the atmosphere on board was chilled a little this morning, when they discovered an empty liferaft.
Since they started out from Yokohama on 29th May, the 9 men aboard Geronimo have been kept busy. The task of getting away from the Japanese coast seemed once again to be down to a question of chance. The previous two records set by Geronimo in this area confirmed that approaching or getting away from the coast of Japan meant gambling with the weather. Apart from the lack of forecasts for this area, their reliability also proved to be a serious problem. Olivier de Kersauson did not expect any better for this attempt at the Pacific. The first two days produced low average speeds with 305 and 265 miles being covered in the mist, sporadic winds and rain. On the third day, in spite of the continuing mist, some favourable winds resulting from the low-pressure area that was forecast improved morale on board.
Firstly positioned to the south west of this low, two days of sailing at more than 20 knots have pushed the trimaran towards the south east, where the winds are weaker, as Olivier de Kersauson described to us: «This low isn't very powerful. We're once again back in variable wind patterns and advancing at between 8 and 22 knots. The crew is regularly changing the sails. We're being held up by a wind coming almost directly from astern in some misty and thundery weather. The other low-pressure area that is coming along behind us is finding it difficult to catch us up, as it clearly doesn't seem to be moving fast enough, while it could help strengthen the system we're currently in. So, these average speeds are not really worthy of Geronimo... »
Having covered 1600 miles out of the 4450 that the voyage entails (by great circle navigation), Olivier de Kersauson is taking nothing for granted as far as the weather ahead to San Francisco is concerned. « We're on a direct course, but that's about all I can say.»
An empty liferaft in the water
« Geronimo passed within 100 metres of a black object that was quickly identified as a liferaft. We came around to head for it. It was empty, deflated and half-capsized. There was some writing on it in Chinese or Japanese lettering and Didier took a photo to report it. Considering the state it was in, it hadn't been in the water for very long, as there wasn't any weed on it. It was impossible to bring it aboard. You can't help thinking that… Let's hope that… Well, we all hope that it was a raft that came adrift during a storm. It's all a bit chilling.
The cockpit fell silent, with everyone deep in their own thoughts.»
The crew:
Olivier de Kersauson
Didier Ragot
Jean Cha rles Corre
Lucas Zamecnik
Xavier Douin
Antoine Deru
Philippe Laot
Mat Bryant
Christopher Links
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