Olivier de Kersauson and his Cape Gemini/Schneider Electric team aboard the giant trimaran Geronimo crossed the Route of the Discovery start line off Cadiz at 8 hours 29 minutes 57 seconds this morning. The aim is to beat the record of 9 days 13 hours 31 minutes 18 seconds set by Steve Fossett’s Playstation in February. This means they will have to complete the 4,700 miles course to San Salvador by Thursday 27 November at 22 hours 15 seconds.

As the team set off this morning there was 20kts of wind from the north. The current forecast shows a favourable depression to the north of Morocco followed by another depression, plus an anticyclone in the Azores. So, once in the Canaries, Team Geronimo will have the choice of two routes; either a more stable southerly route or a more direct route taking in the three successive systems.

De Kersauson and his team were originally scheduled to set off just over a week ago but had to abandon the attempt when Didier Ragot, one of the crewmembers, fell ill and had to be airlifted off ( see news story here ). Ragot, who is still recovering from the illness, has been replaced by Armand Coursaudon.

Crew list

Olivier de Kersauson

Yves Pouillaude

Pierre Corriveaud

Pascal Blouin

Antoine Deru

Stanislas Devorsine

Franck Ferey

Rodolphe Jacq

Xavier Briaud

Philippe Laot

Armand Coursaudon