Geronimo back on track in the Los Angeles Honolulu Challenge record attempt

The maxi trimaran of Capgemini and Schneider Electric, Geronimo has today set off on her attempt to break the current WSSRC record for the 2,225 mile ocean passage from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

After a frustrating day yesterday where unfavourable weather conditions forced the crew to abort the attempt, Olivier de Kersauson and team finally crossed the line for the second time at 19:05:03 UTC (11:05:03 local Pacific time). Geronimo headed out to sea at eight knots boat speed in a 5 knot breeze from the north-nor-west.

To break the current record of five days, nine hours, 18 minutes and 26 seconds set in the 1997 Transpac race by Bruno Peyron the crew have to average a boat speed of 16 knots for the duration of the 2,225 mile passage.

Onboard Geronimo is multihull professional Cam Lewis and fellow Team Adventure team member Larry Rosenfeld. Lewis was onboard Explorer with Peyron when he set this eight-year-old record.

“We are here to break a record and the restart means we have a greater chance of this with a start earlier in the day we can work our way out to the weather pattern off the coast,” commented skipper Olivier de Kersauson as he headed off at the helm of his giant grey ocean racer.

The Los Angeles Yacht Club with PRO David Cort officiating as starter again assisted with the setting of the start line for this Los Angeles Honolulu Challenge record attempt, with Mike Wathen again officiating the start time for the WSSRC.

Start line coordinates of the Los Angeles Honolulu Challenge are 33°42.8’N 118°20.3’W.