At 23:17:42 UTC last night Olivier de Kersauson’s Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran, Geronimo, crossed the Jules Verne Trophy start line between the Créac’h lighthouse on Ushant and the Lizard Point in Cornwall.

Olivier de Kersauson and his crew must therefore re-cross the same line before 07:54:04 on 30 April to beat the time set by Orange in 2002 (of 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 40 seconds).

Crew list

Skipper: Olivier de Kersauson

Watch Captains: Yves Pouillaude et Didier Ragot

Crew members: Pierre Corriveaud, Franck Ferey, Pascal Blouin, Xavier Douin, Antoine Deru, Armand Coursaudon, Philippe Laot, et Xavier Briault.

Fastest time to the Equator by the current record holder: Orange: 7 days 22 hours Fastest time to the Equator: Geronimo 6 days 11 hours