The Cap Gemini-Ernst & Young and Schneider Electric team is on standby for an early morning Jules Verne start. The giant trimaran, Geronimo, will leave the sheltered waters of Brest Arsenal to cross the starting line for the Jules Verne Trophy between Ouessant and the Lizard early tomorrow morning.

Over the past five days Olivier de Kersauson and his crew have been working on simulation weather maps for the voyage south to the Equator and getting ready to unfurl a new Cuben Fiber mainsail.

The current freezing easterly winds have stilled the Bay of Biscay and, in theory, cleared most of the remaining oil slicks from the wreck of the Prestige. Weather forecasts indicate a return of westerly winds over the coming weekend and so the decision has been taken to launch the trimaran tonight in preparation for a Saturday morning start.

The crew always wanted to keep its options open for a departure so early in the year so that, if it is forced to turn back due to bad weather or technical problems, it still has the time to make the necessary changes and set off once again on the record-breaking attempt.

Crew

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Watch

Watch Captain: Yves Pouillaude

Marc Le Fur

Antoine Deru

Stanislas Devorsine

Pascal Blouin Schneider Electric Watch

Watch Captain: Didier Ragot

Franck Ferey

Rodolphe Jacq

Jean-François Fouché

Pierre Corriveaud