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Geronimo holding steady pace

Geronimo is embarking on a four-year campaign

LONDON, England -- Geronimo has covered over 2000 nautical miles in just over four days in her non-stop round-the-world record attempt, despite worsening weather.

French skipper Olivier de Kersauson set out on Monday from Ushant, off the coast of Brittany, France, to break his own 1997 Jules Verne Trophy -- 71 days 14 hours 22 minutes.

The 34 metre (110 feet) three-hulled trimaran was able to travel at 21.29 knots in the first 24 hours, putting them ahead of schedule, but on Thursday the wind fell to around 10 to 15 knots, slowing her down to just 13 knots.

Shore-based weather router Pierre Lasnier said: "Its a slight lull. Its nothing too serious. This slight slowdown has given them time to do some tidying up on board".

Kersauson sailed Sport Elec when he set the current 71-day Jules Verne record in 1997.

At this stage Sport Elec had covered 1,040 miles compared with Geronimo's 2, 210. At this pace, a sub 60-day round-the-world record is possible.

MORE STORIES The making of Geronimo  Enough talking - Kersauson's back in the boat  Orange bids for round-the-world record  Geronimo sets sights on record books

Kersauson has used these more clement sailing conditions to send one of his crew up to the top of the mast, 42 metres above the deck, to replace the gennaker halyard (large foresail) that parted as they rounded Cape Finisterre.

The calmer waters also provided the opportunity to tidy the inside of the boat, which had been rather shaken about in recent days.

After this short period of lighter breezes, the trimaran picked up her pace again as she entered the trade winds.

"We now have the doldrums to contend with", Lasnier said, "but, apparently, things aren't too bad. The situation is quite open and we plan to pass through this area - just north of the equator - a little further east than we originally planned. Everything should go well."

Right from the beginning, life on board Geronimo has been organised according to Kersauson's plan, with the crew divided into two five-man watches.

The Cap Gemini Ernst & Young watch is being led by Yves Pouillaude and the Schneider Electric watch by Didier Ragot.

"We decided that each watch should be on deck for 6 hours and then have a six-hour rest period. This is a much more effective rota than the more usual two- or three-hour watches. With six hours rest, you can actually sleep for at least four hours, thus getting eight hours sleep in every 24," Kersauson said.

It was also agreed that the captain will be off-watch to work on the weather strategy with Lasnier.

"Working this way means there are always six of us available for any manoeuvre - which should be sufficient," he added.

Since the start of the record attempt, the Schneider Electric watch in its green-coded weatherproofs comes on deck at 12:00 GMT, whilst the blue-coded Cap Gemini Ernst & Young watch goes below to rest and eat.

"Theres already a healthy competition developing between the two watches," Kersauson said.

"And that's always the way on any sailing vessel. Theres always a competitive element to see who can make the boat go faster, and for the time being, the Cap Gemini Ernst & Young watch are ahead by just 8 miles. Its a real race within a race".