Early this morning (5 March) the maxi trimaran was just 133 miles from the equator and expecting to cross later today. However, although she sailed over 400 miles in the last 24 hours, Orange, on the same day of her record-setting voyage, had notched up another 500 mile day, putting her just 68 miles from the equator.

Geronimo has been plagued by light winds ever since arriving in the Atlantic whereas Orange had, by now, picked up strong Trade Winds. But Geronimo still has everything to play for. For a boat that has been clocked at 40 knots, 65 miles (that’s Solent to Cherbourg to most of us) is a mere bagatelle.