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The continued presence of ice still blocks any hope of getting further south, especially at night. Further to the north, the wind has little power, so the crew continues to have to compromise the precious advantage they have accumulated since the start of this record attempt. The Southern Ocean is decidedly mediocre this year, offering no opportunity for long days of gliding progress, due to the lack of wind, confused seas and the presence of growlers.

"That's what I say to myself when things aren't going the way I'd like them to, which is exactly the case at the moment. For the last three days, this b….. of a wind right on our track means we've had to tack all the time. But better this weather than no weather at all: Grrrrrrrrr!", said the skipper yesterday evening."

Since this morning, the depression that has been following Geronimo since the Antimeridian seems to be blowing itself out and should disappear as they approach the tip of South America. A new low pressure system made up of a tropical depression to the north and a cold depression to the south should allow the trimaran to pick up a north- north-westerly tonight. The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric crew should then be able to gibe back onto a track that will give them a much better angle to the wind ready to push straight for Cape Horn.