At 15:45 GMT yesterday afternoon, Olivier de Kersauson’s the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric 110ft trimaran passed Cape Horn, the famous rock that symbolises the exit from the Pacific and the seas of the Southern Ocean. Geronimo reached this waypoint after 41 Days, 16 Hours and 27 Minutes at sea, which is 10 hours ahead of the current Jules Verne Trophy holder (Bruno Peyron), but 48 hours behind the new round-the-world record holder, Cheyenne.

De Kersauson and his 10-man crew have had an appalling Pacific crossing marked by deep and powerful depressions, confused and dangerous seas and whole days of fighting against winds of over 50kts. Even the final approach to the Horn demanded three days of upwind slog, just as if they were sailing around the world the “wrong” way.

Geronimo conquered Cape Leeuwin nearly 2 days, 19 hours ahead of Orange’s 2002 time, so the Pacific has really slowed the trimaran’s progress, closing uncompromisingly into a pitiless southern winter.

Now the Atlantic opens ahead of the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran; its southern half looks tough, but with following winds. Remember that this leg of last year’s attempt proved catastrophic, with an almost total absence of wind.

The crew fervently hopes that they have done all the hard work this time round, and can look forward to a rather better welcome from the Atlantic.

Day 41

58°41S – 75°05W

304 nautical miles covered in 24 hours, at an average speed of 12.67 knots

Position of the Jules Verne Trophy holder (2002)

57°42S – 85°01W

403 nautical miles covered in 24 hours, at an average speed of 16.79 knots

Position of the new record (2004)

51°05S – 55°11W

418 nautical miles covered in 24 hours, at an average speed of 17,42 knots

Benchmark times for this waypoint

Geronimo 2004: 41 days, 16 hours, 27 minutes

Jules Verne Trophy holder: 42 days, 2 hours, 52 minutes

Round-the World Record 2004: 39 days, 16 hours, 16 minutes