| LOS ANGELES-(15-11-2005) The giant ocean warrior Geronimo continues to power her way towards the islands of Hawaii in her quest to set a new WSSRC sailing speed record for the transpacific Los Angeles Honolulu Challenge. After crossing the start line just over 48 hours ago Geronimo is close to the halfway point in the 2225 mile race. As the Capgemini and Schneider Electric trimaran charges towards the finish line in Honolulu they have been travelling at an average of 21.75 knots boat speed overnight. The maxi trimaran has covered 261 miles in 12 hours with the team covering over 500 miles for day two. ‘It’s rolling, everything is alright,’ said skipper Olivier de Kersauson.
A length of 110 feet, a width of over 70 feet and a mast that stands over 130 feet high, this ocean racing monster can reach top speeds of over 40 knots boat speed. This boat is the only maxi racing trimaran in the world and is a holder of two current sailing speed records. When the crew onboard Geronimo are racing, they are pitted against their three toughest competitors, the clock, themselves and mother nature. With a sail area that covers 1000 square metres this boat is designed and built for speed and endurance.
Comments following are from USA crew member Larry Rosenfeld who joined fellow American Cam Lewis and the nine French crew onboard Geronimo for the Los Angeles Honolulu Challenge record attempt. Lewis and Rosenfeld both are part of the maxi catamaran Team Adventure crew.
‘On our record attempt in the Los Angeles to Honolulu Hawaii Challenge on the 110 ft French trimaran - Geronimo 2225 miles in 129 hours is the time to beat. It’s a beautiful full moon tonight. We just took out two reefs out of the main and put up the solent (Number 2 headsail). We're about to sail south another 15 degrees to stay away from the centre of the high pressure system that we're skirting that's giving us all this good wind. Cam's been doing some of the driving and doing a great job. Spray is flying off the leeward floater when it gets pressured up. After my watch which ended at 0900 UTC (1 a.m. local) I sat out on the windward floater for a half hour just watching in awe as the boat flew over the waves under the moon and small squall clouds.
Seas have smoothed out a bit. We're just getting to the point of being ahead of the record now. It was pretty slow going at first and then very rough seas from a bad direction and now finally we can let her run. We have been doing 23-28 knots last watch. Its great fun to be out here again on such a fast boat, it’s interesting to see the differences between a trimaran and a catamaran. The trimaran does a great job at close reaching and in light airs. It doesn't have the top speed downwind though it feels faster since the leeward floater is so much lower to the water than the hull of the catamaran and it sends spray all over. Earlier we were definitely faster on the trimaran, close reaching. The motion is much less of the jerky forward and back motion of the cat but still lots of the up and down. Not so smooth in the back of the bus where the navigation station is either. Atmosphere on board is just great, the Skipper, Olivier de Kersauson and the crew have been most welcoming and lots of fun to sail with and the boat is a dream to sail in these Pacific swells.
Position now is 30° 28N -130° 55 W. 1550 miles to go and about 89 hours left. Have to average about 17.4 knots boat speed along the track, but the forecast is for lighter winds later. Only a few more hours before my next watch, so I'm going to rest now’.
The giant ocean warrior Geronimo photo Ian Mainsbridge
Tracking of the progress of this attempt for the Los Angeles Honolulu Challenge record by Geronimo can been seen at www.superyachting.com
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