Olivier de Kersauson and his 10-man crew aboard the 110ft trimaran Geronimo are still encountering difficult sailing conditions, with the wind continuing to blow from the south, but less violently. However, despite the conditions they managed to cover 490 miles in the last 24 hours and are still ahead of Orange I’s record at this stage of the Jules Verne Challenge.

The crew, now on their 35th day at sea, are awaiting a big depression moving up from the south which should help them get back on the right track in the westerly flow.

Cape Horn is still 2,600 nautical miles away. Orange was 3,385 nautical miles from it on the same day during her record-breaking challenge. So the Cap Gemini/Schneider Electric crew are ahead of this record by 785 nautical miles. The gap yesterday was 622 nautical miles, so Geronimo has put in a good day’s work on its route to Cape Horn.

To sail one degree of longitude at 50°S, you have to do 38.57 nautical miles, while at 55°S, you only have to do 34.41, which is 12 per cent less. So the southerly route not only offers a refuge against the depressions, it also means that less distance needs to be covered. But still, that wind from the west would be more than welcome.

Position on Day 35

51°37S

144°20W