Geronimo, the giant Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Schneider Electric trimaran is in Brest ready to leave for her Jules Verne Challenge attempt to beat the current record set in May this year by the catamaran Orange with a time of 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds.

Having arrived at the base on 4 December, the crewmembers are now waiting impatiently for the fair weather window. Although the Bay of Biscay poses no major problems at present, the easterlies now blowing between Gibraltar and the north of Cape Verde are not ideal for the fastest possible run south to the Equator. The Azores high is not in its usual position and the trade winds begin a long way south, which is quite unusual.

Setting off at the beginning of winter gives Geronimo the option of completing half the course and returning to Brest for another attempt if weather conditions are unsuitable.