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Geronimo breaks another record

Geronimo has a three-day lead over the Orange record. Story Tools

CAPE LEEUWIN, Australia -- Frenchman Olivier de Kersauson has set his third record aboard the giant trimaran Geronimo as he sails at a relentless pace around the planet in his Jules Verne Trophy attempt.

Kersauson sailed from Ushant to Australia's southwestern Cape Leeuwin in 26 days, 4 hours and 53 minutes -- slashing over three days off the time set by Bruno Peyron in the catamaran Orange in 2002.

Kersauson is attempting to win the trophy for circumnavigating the globe in under 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds -- the record set by Orange.

Geronimo is being followed by rival Ellen MacArthur aboard Kingfisher2, which is due to cross the Equator on Friday and is well outside Geronimo's record time after being trapped in the light winds of the Doldrums for the last 24 hours.

Kersauson and his 10-man crew are also now struggling against extremely difficult conditions.

"The wind is blowing 35 to 42 knots and steady, rising to between 55 and 60 when the squalls come through. It all requires a lot of attention," he said.

"It never stops. I'm so happy with this crew and so proud of them. We're having a great time and we're hanging in there. We're on the attack all the time."

Kersauson has broken two other records during his Jules Verne attempt, gaining at least one day on each of the three major sections of the route so far.

He sailed from Ushant to the Equator in 6 days, 11 hours and 26 minutes -- 1 day, 10 hours and 34 minutes ahead of Bruno Peyron in Orange.

Then he soared from Ushant to the Cape of Good Hope in 16 days, 14 hours and 35 minutes -- 2 days, 4 hours and 5 minutes ahead of Orange.

His latest record from Ushant to Cape Leeuwin shaved 3 days, 2 hours and 29 minutes off of Peyron's time in Orange.

Despite a cushion of over three days, he is only half way around the world and the weather conditions can easily turn against Geronimo.

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