Despite winds that remained unstable yesterday, Geronimo, Olivier de Kersauson’s 110ft trimaran, clocked up 521 nautical miles during her 11th day at sea at an average speed of 21.72 knots. However, at a position of 19°01S – 31°32W, she still has nearly 1,000 miles south to travel before turning the corner towards the Indian Ocean. And according to news from the boat, the St Helena High is still a long way south of its normal position and drifting slowly towards Africa.

Because of this weather situation Geronimo will have to make a detour from her ideal course and skirt the anticyclone to the west below the 40th parallel. This change in course is all the more unwelcome since the Antarctic convergence south of South Africa is moving north, bringing with it floating ice and growlers and making the southward passage a dangerous option.

Talking from the boat this morning Kersauson said: “We’re making about 25 knots over the surface in 20kts of winds with intermittent squalls under full main and solent. Fortunately, Geronimo is fast in light-to-medium weather conditions. We’re not losing any time now, but we certainly need to make some up!”

The next waypoint is at 35°S, 24°W, a seamark determined by averaging the routes taken by previous Jules Verne Trophy competitors. Today, Geronimo is 92 sea miles further from this point than the current record holder, which puts her about four hours behind. She therefore remains very much in the running to set a new record, despite these less than ideal conditions.