10.12.2007
Groupama muss weitere 5 Tage auf Startfenster warten !
Kate Jennings
JULES VERNE TROPHY
(CREWED CIRCUMNAVIGATION AROUND THE THREE CAPES)
GROUPAMA 3 READY FOR OFF
Tomorrow, Thursday 6th December, Groupama 3, skippered by Franck Cammas will be on standby. Alongside in Lorient, NW France, its home port, the 31.50 m trimaran with four records already under its belt, will submit itself to waiting for favourable weather conditions to begin its Jules Verne Trophy attempt.
Code red. The colour isn't selected by chance. It signifies that the weather conditions analysed at Météo France by Sylvain Mondon, will not enable the ten crew on Groupama 3 to leave the French coast at speed.
Clearly this is something they will need in order to stand a chance of conquering the infamous Trophy held by Bruno Peyron in a time of 50 days 16 hours and 20 minutes.
At the Lorient base, the crew is virtually complete. From Brazil, South Africa and all around France, the sailors have joined the maxi-trimaran which they know so well, since the majority of them were aboard during the four records broken between May and July: Discovery Route, Miami New-York, North Atlantic crossing and the distance covered in 24 hours.
Under the direction of team manager, Stéphane Guilbaud, the ten adventurers are gradually entering into what will be their daily routine around the planet. On the floor of the big sail loft, the gear is spread out and stored in themes. In the clothing category, each of them have their first name emblazoned on their own boxes: underwear, foulies, fleeces, jackets, dry suits and duvets. As regards food, 50 bags have been embarked, which are numbered and adapted to the nutritional needs of the sailing zone in question. The repair material and spares have also been placed in the bilges of Groupama 3 after being carefully weighed.
Grouped in a circle, Cammas, Proffit, Ravussin, Le Peutrec, Le Mignon, Audigane, Caraës, Dekker and Le Goff are actively exchanging ideas. The trip out to sea scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday has been put back due to the bad weather. Like the trawlers, Groupama 3 remains alongside It is only in theory then that the sailors study how to recuperate a man who has gone overboard. Each of them share their experiences and express their opinions, all too aware that in this type of situation approximations have no place.
Prior to making Ushant, from where the Jules Verne Trophy most often sets out, they will have to wait for code green (start in 24 hours), this particular code preceded by code yellow (likely start in 48 hours) and code orange (possible start in 96 hours).
Patience then…
The ‘Jules Verne’ crew of Groupama 3
To date, nine of the ten men who will set off on the assault of the Jules Verne Trophy aboard Groupama 3 are known. Indeed, just a few days ago, Dutch sailor Marcel Van Triest, retained for the position of onboard navigator for this round the world, was forced to withdraw from his engagement for personal reasons. The name of his replacement will be communicated at the start of next week.
Franck Cammas - Born 22nd December 1972
Skipper / Watch leader – helm (1st Circumnavigation)
Franck Proffit – Born 5th October 1963
Operational Manager of Groupama 3
Watch leader – helm / Sail manager (3rd Circumnavigation)
Stève Ravussin – Born 23rd December 1968 - Swiss
Watch leader – helm / Video – Photo Manager (1st Circumnavigation)
Frédéric Le Peutrec – Born 20th June 1965
Second helm / Onboard Food Manager (2nd Circumnavigation)
Loic Le Mignon – Born 25th April 1970
Second helm / Superstructure Manager (2nd Circumnavigation)
Sébastien Audigane – Born 9th March 1968
Second helm / Medical Manager (2nd Circumnavigation)
Ronan Le Goff - Born 11th May 1970
No.1 / Rigging and superstructure (3rd Circumnavigation)
Jan Dekker - Born 10th October 1967 – Franco South African
No.1 / Medical and Rigging Manager (5th Circumnavigation)
Jacques Caraës – Born 19th August 1959
No.1 / Video – Photo Manager (4th Circumnavigation)
Sylvain Mondon (Météo France)
Onshore weather expert
Key Figures
Record 5 – Jules Verne Trophy
21,760 miles, from the start of a line, which is virtually defined between the island of Ushant and Lizard Point lighthouse (UK). Crewed circumnavigation leaving the Capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn to port.
Time to beat: 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes and 4 seconds – Average speed: 17.89 knots
Record held by Bruno Peyron, aboard the maxi-catamaran Orange 2, since March 2005.
Records set by Groupama 3
May 2007: Discovery Route (Cadiz -San Salvador), 3,884 miles
7 d 10 h 58 min 53 sec, at an average speed of 21.7 knots (- 2 d and 2 h /previous record)
June 2007: Miami - New York, 947 miles
Time: 1 d 11 h 5 min 20 sec, at an average speed of 27 knots (- 18 h / previous record)
July 2007: Greatest distance covered in 24 hours
794 miles, at an average speed of 33.08 knots (27 miles more than the previous record)
North Atlantic Record (New York – Lizard Point), 2,925 miles
4 days 3 hours 57 minutes 54 seconds, at an average speed of 29.26 knots (- 4 h and 26 min / previous record)
Groupama and Franck Cammas: 100% trust!
Loyalty and commitment have characterised the partnership between Franck Cammas and Groupama for the past ten years. Indeed, thanks to the constant, determined support of the mutual benefit insurance company, Franck Cammas has built up an impressive track record. Starting off with Groupama, the first of its name, back in 1998, the adventure continued with Groupama 2 launched in 2004, then with Groupama 3 in 2006. In 10 years, Franck has stood out in all forms of competition, totalling 56 races, 49 in which he gained podium places and 28 victories.
To accompany and follow the progress of Groupama 3’s circumnavigation, one sole
address: www.cammas-groupama.com
Kate Jennings
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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