Geronimo calls Driscoll Boat Works its Home Base of Operations

SAN DIEGO, CA – December 12, 2006 – This winter the America’s Cup Harbor is heating up as the sailing tri-maran Geronimo calls Driscoll Boat Works in San Diego its home base of operations. This 34 meter offshore sailing tri-maran arrived in November after a twelve day sail from Tahiti. During the 3,000 mile trip from French Polynesia she averaged 16 knots. In 2004 she was awarded the Jules Verne Trophy for circumnavigation of the world in sixty three days. On July 9th, 2005 she set a new record for “The Challenge,” a 17 day, 13 hour, 32 minute, and 39 second circumnavigation of the continent of Australia. Geronimo is a Mar van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prevot design and currently the only maxi tri-maran in operation. The high tech design, construction, and outfit of this vessel surpasses that of any modern class America’s Cup sloop.

Upon arrival at Driscoll’s Geronimo will be completing a day sail with privileged V.I.P guests. She will begin preparation for an attempt to break the Transpac speed record of 5 days 9 hours 18 minutes and 26 seconds. The Franco American crew will be announced at a later date. Geronimo will arrive in San Pedro at the Los Angeles Yacht Club to prepare for the sail to Honolulu under the World Sailing Speed Record Council guidelines.

Geronimo’s skipper Frenchman Olivier de Kersauson has just logged his ninth trip around the world. He is a national hero of France and draws crowds and paparazzi when traveling throughout Europe. Thousands of spectators awaited his arrival in Tahiti last August.

After their record breaking attempt, she will return to the safety of the Driscoll facility in America’s Cup Harbor until mid January. Skipper Kersauson will lead his crew in the trek from San Francisco to Yokohama, Japan in an effort to break the current record set in May of 1997 of 19 days and 15 hours.

   Press releases composed by:  Val Maughmer
   Photo Credits:  Val Maughmer

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