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Geronimo's Jules Verne bid over
BREST, France -- Giant trimaran Geronimo has crossed the finish line in its failed round-the-world record attempt after 68 days, 1 hour and 58 minutes at sea. French skipper Olivier de Kersauson and his 10 crew had been attempting to win the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest boat around the world, but the bid ended four days outside the record as they crossed the line at 0458 GMT on Thursday. At one stage Geronimo had built up a huge margin of five days over Bruno Peyron's record -- 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds -- set in 2002. But the record slipped from reach at the weekend after more than 60 days at sea when it became obvious the weather would not cooperate. But De Kersauson is now officially the second fastest man to sail around the world, breaking his own 1997 record of 71 days. He said: "We've had a very strange Jules Verne Trophy voyage and I wouldn't wish the conditions we've seen on anyone. It's wearing, it's sad and it creates a dispiriting feeling of powerlessness. "It's a real meteorological catastrophe and something that no-one could have predicted." De Kersauson built the 34 meter (110 foot) Peteghem Prevost-designed trimaran, sponsored by Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric, specifically for a Jules Verne record attempt. He set off twice in Jules Verne bids in 2002, but was turned back -- once with a broken topmast and once with steering problems. After leaving Brittany, France, on January 11 on his third attempt, De Kersauson set record times to the Equator and the three great Capes, rounding Cape Horn after 40 days, improving on Peyron's time by more than 24 hours. The Jules Verne Trophy has only been broken three times in 12 attempts. Three weeks ago Briton Ellen MacArthur abandoned her round-the-world attempt when the mast of her catamaran Kingfisher2 came crashing down deep in the Southern Ocean. Geronimo has proved it has the potential to break the elusive 60-day barrier in the right conditions. But De Kersauson admits that speed and reliability are not enough to break a round-the-world record -- some luck is needed with the wind. "The start is the only time you can pick your weather," he said. "From then on you are at the mercy of the wind gods." No-one is scheduled to attempt the Jules Verne Trophy for at least another year. JULES VERNE RECORD TIMES: 2002 Orange (Peyron) 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds 1997 Sport Elec (De Kersauson) 71 days 14 hours 22 minutes 8 seconds 1994 ENZA (Blake/Knox-Johnston) 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds 1993 Commodore Explorer (Peyron) 79 days 6 hours 15 minutes 56 seconds
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