Tuesday 29th January – Press Release No.63
JULES VERNE TROPHY
(CREWED ROUND THE WORLD VIA THE THREE CAPES)
LINE OF SIGHT
The equator is the next objective for Groupama 3, which was just 350 miles away
midway through this afternoon. The weather forecasts suggest that Franck Cammas
and his crew won’t be too slowed by a rather inactive Doldrums. At this pace,
the crew may well make it into the Southern hemisphere just after daybreak on
Wednesday, which would give the giant trimaran its first intermediary time…
With the exception of the first day at sea and a few squalls off the Canaries,
Groupama 3 has essentially sailed in light to moderate breezes of normally less
than twenty knots… And yet, the giant trimaran is perfectly within the timing of
a round the world record since it is already set to be awarded an initial
intermediary time for the passage to the equator! Six days, eleven hours, twenty
six minutes: this was the score achieved by Geronimo in 2003… In contrast,
Orange II wasn’t very fast during the initial stage of its victorious trip
around the world in 2005, since they didn’t cross into the other hemisphere
until seven days, two hours, fifty-six minutes… At an average pace of twenty
knots this Tuesday, Franck Cammas and his crew should pass into the South
between 0700 and 1400 hours GMT on Wednesday, that is a descent from Ushant in
six days, give or take a few hours.
Inactive Doldrums fortunately…
In fact, everything will depend on the situation in the Doldrums which,
according to the forecaster, Sylvain Mondon of Météo France, is spread out quite
far but isn’t very active, even though some storms are likely tonight. It’s
impossible to predict this zone with any degree of certainty however due to it
being marked by the confrontation of the North and South tradewinds and the
clash of the associating seas, as the very high evaporation of the sea creates
large cloud masses laden with moisture. In addition to this, there is the
presence of unpredictable calms due to the slight barometric gradient. In short,
despite all the technical means, the digitally forecast models and even the
satellite images, this meteorological microwave cannot to be precisely discerned
from land. Within the space of a few kilometres, one vessel can benefit from
over twenty knots of steady breeze, whilst another spins round in an evanescent,
fickle breeze for hours on end.
However, good news comes from other yachts who have traversed this
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone over the past few days: Lionel Lemonchois and
his crew went through this zone just six days ago, bound for Cape Horn after
setting out from New York. They barely saw anything at all, other than virtually
cloudless blue skies! The Dick-Foxall duo on the return leg of the Barcelona
World Race, also crossed the equator four days ago and Steve Ravussin was able
to exchange a few words at the radio session this Wednesday lunchtime: they
suffered squalls but didn't take long to escape the Doldrums. To date, the Swiss
sailor indicated only that it had been necessary to change the sails this
Tuesday morning as the breeze, though stable in direction, was more variable in
force. “I’ve just woken up. I slept well but not for long: just an hour… as we
had to manœuvre quite a lot last night. We hoisted the light gennaker this
morning as the wind had eased slightly: 13 knots instead of 23 last night! We
have beautiful skies, a stable wind in terms of direction and fine seas: we are
on port tack this lunchtime making 23 knots…” detailed Steve Ravussin. Tonight
may well be a bit livelier on the deck of Groupama 3 but we're wagering that the
crew will be a day ahead of the record when they cross the equator.
Today’s interviews
Interview with Steve Ravussin
“We aren’t very tired as we were able to complete our sleep phases without being
woken. We ate really well over the first three days thanks to the dishes
prepared by our cook ‘Rochas’ and now we’ve gone on to freeze-dried food with
some excellent sauces… It's a great atmosphere aboard Groupama 3 and
everything’s going really well: Franck has adapted to the situation well with a
larger crew than on a 60 footer."
Damian Foxall and Jean-Pierre Dick, aboard Paprec-Virbac in the Barcelona World
Race
"Whilst you're heading South, we’re climbing upwind against the waves! We
mustn‘t mess things up for the finish… We have virtually been upwind the whole
time since Cape Horn: it’s long. You’re in the process of passing through the
Doldrums, whilst we are on our way out: we could have seen each other! Good luck
to you all and fair sailing.”
http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/groupama/sr290108a_fr_e.mp3
Rights free interview for the press, available by simple request – broadcast via
ISDN line, telephone or email. Contact Corentin Duroselle - Windreport’
on +33 (0)6 63 02 80 71 - +33 (0)2 40 84 30 00 - cod@windreport.com
During the record, find Franck Cammas and his crew everyday at 1100 GMT live
from Groupama 3. For this nothing could be simpler: www.cammas-groupama.com or
connect to the Groupama 3 / WindReport platform and ask your questions, by
calling 0 825 15 30 70 (0.15 € / min).
References: Jules Verne Trophy
Today’s figures
Start on 24th January at 0750’17’’ UT
Arrival before Saturday 15th March 2008 at 00h09'21'' UT
Day 5 at 07 45 UT
* Distance covered on the water in 24 hours: 551.1 miles
*Distance covered since the start: 2,571 miles
*Distance to the finish: 21,959 miles
*Average on day 5: 22.96 knots
*Average since the start: 21.42 knots
*Lead in relation to Orange II: 420.4 miles
NB: The WSSRC round the world is defined as corresponding with the circumference
of the Earth to the equator, or 21,600 miles. However, this is the shortest
route and not achievable (Equatorial Doldrums, Antarctica…): in order to be
closer to reality, the positions carried out by the latest round the world
attempts (Orange II, IDEC, Groupama 3…) are based on an optimised theoretical
course of 24,530 miles.
Find a detailed cartography at: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne
Kate Jennings
|
