Tracy Edward’s maxi catamaran Maiden II, currently challenging for the Round Britain and Ireland speed record, is well on target despite the light winds. According to Nathalie Le Pen at the Maiden II office, they are now heading towards the Scilly Isles in a light south-sou’-westerly breeze with 10-11 knots of boatspeed.

However, despite Maiden’s top performance so far and her favourable record-breaking outlook, the team is aware that Olivier de Kersauson and his trimaran Geronimo, challenging for the record at the same time, are also currently on target for a possible record breaking run.

While Maiden II’s generally performs better in a big breeze downwind, Geromino favours the reaches and beats which means that if the predicted forecast of lighter winds tracking round to the south, develop, this is where Geronimo could have an advantage on the final stages of the challenge.

While it is too early to predict when the boats will cross their respective finish lines (Maiden II off Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, and Geronimo off the Lizard) if the record is to be broken they need to finish in the next 36 hours.

The third boat challenging for the record, L’Hydroptère, the trimaran foiler, has retired.