The condition of a crewmember who was airlifted off Geronimo last night with suspected Meningitis is less serious than first thought.

Didier Ragot, a crewmember aboard Olivier de Kersauson’s giant trimaran, was struck down yesterday with a mystery virus while en-route to Cadiz for the start of team’s next challenge – to break the Route of Discovery speed record from Cadiz – San Salvador.

After consultation with the doctors on shore last night Olivier de Kersauson, the skipper made a decision to head for Cape Virgo on the Spanish coast to allow Ragot to be taken off by helicopter and transferred to Vigo hospital. Tests today, however, show that Ragot has a virus less serious than first suspected.

While Ragot remains in hospital for further tests, the rest of the crew aboard Geronimo are on their way back to Brest for possible medical tests and to review the weather situation for their re-scheduled Route of Discovery attempt.