Studying weather charts of the North Atlantic is still the number one occupation for the skipper and his routers aboard Geronimo as they head for the Jules Verne finish line.

According to Olivier de Kersauson and team it only needs a glance at these famous charts to believe that Geronimo has stirred up a hornet’s nest of weather systems just by her presence. To summarise the position, the Capgemini and Schneider Electric trimaran must cross two anticyclones and complete the remainder of the course upwind, crossing the line on the English side from the direction of Ireland if she is to have any chance of beating Orange record.

The latest and most subtle provocation is that a nice depression is now forming over the Azores, similar to that which carried Cheyenne directly to the finish line, but it won’t be established until 29 April, the day before Geronimo’s deadline and therefore too late. Just another of Mother Nature’s little jokes, no doubt.

They must now cover at least 343 nautical miles a day on a route identical to that of Bruno Peyron if they are to beat his record. That would be no problem in normal weather conditions, but tomorrow looks like being a very slow day, with an enormous Azores High to cross, or to be skirted via Miami! The two days after that are still forecast to be upwind sailing, as normal, but this time with a patched-up solent and a forward beam in tatters.

So everything remains open. No one dares to be optimistic, but one thing is for sure – the 11 men on board Geronimo will battle on right to the bitter end.