Jules Verne Trophy
Geronimo has the equator in their sights
dimanche 24 février 2002 –
Six and a half days after crossing the Trophée Jules Verne start line off Ushant at 01:25 GMT (02:25 French time) last Monday and 2,785 miles later (an average speed approaching 18 knots), Geronimo is approaching the equator. This is the first waypoint on her circuit of the globe and one she should cross during Monday morning.
The Cap Gemini Ernst & Young – Schneider Electric team therefore seems set to improve significantly on the time set for this leg on the successful 1997 record attempt. The trimaran Olivier de Kersauson was sailing on that occasion took 11 days, 4 hours to reach the Southern Hemisphere.
All now depends on the weather conditions Geronimo encounters in the next few hours of her journey south along the African coast. "We will have to be patient", said the current record holder in his latest radio bulletin. He knows very well that the present options open to his giant trimaran are strictly limited. Geronimo’s strategy is therefore pretty straightforward : to reach the equator as quickly as possible by the most direct route and cross into the Southern Hemisphere to pick up the southern trade winds.
Bit it’s a strategy that’s not easy to put into practice. For the last 48 hours, those on board Geronimo have been enduring sailing conditions that are beginning to put their nerves to the test. "We’ve had virtually no wind since we passed the Cap Verde islands", says Olivier de Kersauson. "It’s never risen above 18 or 19 knots. Even then, it’s coming from behind us and right on our heading. We’ve been manoeuvring the boat all night. We haven’t stopped !"
This slow progress meant that Geronimo was still 350 miles from the equator at 12:00 GMT (13:00 French time) today, but still hoping to cross it by daybreak tomorrow. "We daren’t say any more than that – we’re just keeping our fingers crossed" spits Kersauson. "We do what we can with the wind we have. The trouble is, we don’t have very much…".
Information Rivacom pour Geronimo. A suivre sur http://www.grandsrecords.com
Map : Geronimo vs Orange
Dans la même rubrique
-
en : Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue
Aboard Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue, skipper Tom Laperche and his crew claimed victory this Monday, July 28, in the 51st edition of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race, from Cowes (UK) to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (France). Already winners of the previous edition and current course record holders, the crew delivered a strong performance just months ahead (…)
-
en : ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest
Blessed with a perfect sunrise, flat seas and a modest 15kts breeze as he approached the long awaited finish line off Brest this morning Charles Caudrelier took time to enjoy the final ten miles of his solo multihull race round the world.
-
en : Jules Verne Trophy
At about 1600h (CET) today, Monday 15 January 2018, Spindrift 2 was sailing just off Point St Matthieu and Camaret in Brittany on her way to the start line of the Jules Verne Trophy, when she dismasted.
-
en : Trimaran Macif
François Gabart, who left Ouessant on 4 November 10:05 (UTC+1), crossed the finishing line of his solo round the world, located between Lizard Point and Ouessant, at 02:45 (French time, UTC+1) this 17 December. For his first attempt, the MACIF trimaran skipper establishes a new single-handed round the world record of 42 days, 16 hours, 40 (…)
-
en : Ultim
New York, François Gabart loves the city so much he has won there twice. After winning solo last year, Gabart came back with a five-man crew and showed again that in this race of giants Macif is king.
-
en : Gitana Team
On Thursday, March 30th, the Gitana Team invited the press to the Palais de Tokyo to mark the official launch of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, a "giant" 32 meters long by 23 meters wide, which is experiencing its last months of construction after more Of a year and a half of construction. The launch of this new Gitana unit is scheduled for July. A (…)
A la une
Articles les plus récents
-
en : Antigua | Caribbean islands
Juan K 88 Lucky, skippered by Bryon Ehrhart, has taken Monohull Line Honours in the 2025 RORC Caribbean 600 in an elapsed time of 01 Day 17 Hrs 14 Mins and 12 Secs. Farr 100 Leopard 3, skippered by Joost Schuijff, fought tooth and nail to retain their title from 2024, but ended the race in a fierce battle with Roy P. Disney’s Volvo 70 Pyewacket (…)
-
fr : Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue - Granville
Comme chaque année, le tour des ports de la Manche est de retour pour une nouvelle édition. Du 6 au 11 juillet 2025, les équipages rallieront différents ports de la Manche et des îles anglo-normandes autour d’un nouveau parcours marqué par un départ depuis Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue et une arrivée le 11 juillet à Granville.
-
en : World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge unfolded in challenging 25-35 foot waves at the world-famous Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. The best big wave surfers had major performances with today’s consistent conditions offering plenty of waves in every heat. The strong offshore wind made it more challenging, with (…)
-
fr : Horizon29 Course au large
Sous les applaudissements d’une équipe passionnée et d’un public conquis par l’audace et l’aventure, l’IMOCA flambant neuf d’Horizon 29 glisse enfin dans les eaux bretonnes. Ce moment, empreint d’émotion et de fierté, symbolise bien plus qu’un simple lancement technique : il marque l’aboutissement de mois de travail acharné, de collaborations (…)
-
en : Inshore racing • Spain
The Italian Jesper Karlsen (Fraglia Vela Riva) has been proclaimed absolute champion of the 35th Palamós International Optimist Trophy and Spain has revalidated the title as winner of the 19th Nations Cup. In this way Karlsen will inscribe his name the Permanent Vila de Palamós Optimist Trophy breaking a streak of three consecutive Spanish (…)
-
fr : Madère - Martinique
A 10h 39 (heure de Paris), ce vendredi 14 février, le Royannais Alexandre Ozon a remporté sa 3e Transquadra Madère Martinique d’affilée, à la barre de son Bepox 990 rose ‘’Team 2 Choc’’. « C’était la plus belle de toutes mes transats ! »
-
fr : MerConcept
Le projet UpWind by MerConcept - créé en en 2024 par MerConcept et son partenaire fondateur 11th Hour Racing et visant à promouvoir la diversité et l’inclusion en course au large – est ravi d’annoncer l’arrivée d’Anne-Claire Le Berre en tant que nouvelle skipper pour la saison 2025. Cette nomination marque une nouvelle étape dans la mission (…)
-
fr : FFVoile | eSailing
Samedi 8 février, la Fédération Française de Voile organisait la 6e édition du Championnat de France eSailing (inshore). Les 10 finalistes avaient rendez-vous au siège de la fédération pour une soirée de régates virtuelles très relevées. Au terme de 11 courses qualificatives et d’une finale extrêmement disputée, Stéphane Galzin (alias (…)
-
fr : Imoca Freelance .com • Vendée Globe
Après 89 jours 20 heures 16 minutes et 20 secondes de course, Guirec Soudée a franchi la ligne d’arrivée aux Sables d’Olonne en 23e position ce samedi matin à 09 heures 18 minutes et 20 secondes. Le skipper de Freelance.com a su résister à des conditions parfois extrêmes et faire preuve d’un sacré sang-froid pour aller au bout. Lui qui n’a (…)
-
fr : Imoca Prysmian Group • Vendée Globe
Ce mardi à 9h34, après 85 jours, 20 heures et 32 minutes de mer, Giancarlo Pedote a franchi la ligne d’arrivée du Vendée Globe, au large des Sables d’Olonne. Le skipper de Prysmian, qui avait terminé à une belle 8e place il y a quatre ans, boucle cette fois son tour du monde à la 22e position. Un résultat en deçà de ses attentes initiales, mais (…)