Friday 1st February – Press Release No.66
JULES VERNE TROPHY
GROUPAMA 3 AT THE ZENITH
Whilst she had already passed 20° South this Friday afternoon, Groupama 3 was
beginning to bend its course towards South Africa. The tradewinds have continued
to fill in since their passage of the equator and the trimaran has racked up a
day at over 680 miles! Heat, squalls and a good atmosphere characterise this
eighth day at sea…
Hanging a left: Franck Cammas and his crew are beginning to follow the access
road, which links the ‘Saint Helena ringroad’ to the ‘Southern expressway’! The
traffic is flowing smoothly despite the proximity of the weekend and there's no
indication of any traffic jams off Rio de Janeiro. Groupama 3 seems to have
avoided the rush hours…but not the speed cameras since it has already been
‘flashed’ making nearly 32 knots this Friday morning! It should be emphasised
that there are no speed restrictions in the South Atlantic and the giant
trimaran has made the most of this to rack up 685 miles in 24 hours, extending
its lead over Orange II to 680 miles!
“We’re making more and more speed: there are a fair number of squalls around so
you really have to keep an eye on the situation. The seas are beginning to
build. The tradewinds are slowly shifting to the left, but under one reef
mainsail and solent jib, we haven’t yet begun to bend our course inwards. This
should happen this afternoon and we’ll probably have to hoist the gennaker: I
think we’ll make easting in two stages, a spell making due South then, with the
arrival of a low, a long tack towards South Africa. Once we’ve caught onto the
W’ly winds of the Deep South, we should be on our way then for a sprint of
fifteen days or less to Cape Horn! However, this initial depression system will
escape and we’ll have to wait for the next lows to come around: it won't be an
easy drive down the expressway to Cape Town. Our aim will be to remain at the
edge of these phenomena so as not to suffer too big a sea. In the meantime
though, we'll have to make southing to hook onto this front" recounted Franck
Cammas at the telephone session this Friday.
Directly beneath the sun
These high speeds are not preventing life onboard from settling into its own
rhythm and schedules, framed by the watches, the meals, the rests.. and the
apéritifs! “Yesterday evening, we made up our weekly apéritif with thinly sliced
dried beef, cheese from the Savoie region, savoury pancakes, all washed down
with a small bottle of Cheval Blanc… It’s the first time I’ve done that aboard a
race boat! As the course is a long distance one and you have to know how to take
a break away from the pace to boost the team spirits, it's a good idea for
everyone to get together in the cockpit, especially as its rather warm…” This
goes to show that the rhythm of these long haul trips isn't the same as the
express ones. This is the case not simply due to the condition of the boat being
crucial, but also the physical shape and motivation of the crew, which have to
be subject to such high average speeds for very long periods of time, without
damaging the boat's potential or overly stressing the crew.
All this is rather a novelty for the skipper Franck Cammas who has already, at
the latitude of Rio de Janeiro, largely exceeded his personal best distance
covered during his solo or double-handed transatlantic races. And on this 1st
February, the crew were also able to observe that the sun was directly overhead,
at the solar midday: not a shadow possible when the sun is directly at its
zenith in the throes of the austral summer…! Slowly though, or rather rapidly
given the weather forecasts, the temperatures will drop, the winds will
strengthen and the seas will build, for at the end of this bracing second
weekend at sea, the roaring 40’s will put in an appearance! After just ten days
at sea… The Groupama 3 team are indeed the ‘time shrinkers'!
All about the tour
*From Ushant to the equator: 6 days 6 hours 24 minutes (Groupama 3 in 2008)
*Lead over Orange II’s passage of the equator in 2005 (7d 02h 56'): 20 hours 32
minutes
Today’s interviews
Franck Cammas, skipper of Groupama 3: “We have had our weekly aperitif with
thinly sliced dried beef, cheeses and savoury pancakes. And then a small jug of
wine brought along by Yves (Parlier). Moments like these are important for the
crew”.
http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/groupama/fc010208a_fr_e.mp3
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
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 II, since March
2005.
Time to beat from the equator - the Cape of Good Hope: 7 days 5 hours 22 minutes
(Orange II in 2005)
Start on 24th January at 07h50’17’’ UT
Arrival before Saturday 15th March 2008 at 00h09'21'' UT
Day 8 at 7h 45’ UT
*Distance covered on the water in 24 hours: 683.5miles
*Distance covered since the start: 4,250 miles
*Distance to the finish: 20,280 miles
*Average on day 8: 28.48 knots
*Average since the start: 22.14 knots
*Lead in relation to Orange II: 658 miles
Find a detailed cartography at: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne
The crew on Groupama 3
Franck Cammas / Franck Proffit / Stève Ravussin / Frédéric Le Peutrec / Loic Le
Mignon / Sébastien Audigane / Ronan Le Goff / Jan Dekker / Jacques Caraës / Yves
Parlier
Shore-based weather expert: Sylvain Mondon (Météo France)
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.
During the maxi-trimaran record attempt, find us at the Groupama Race HQ
located at 21 boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 Paris (open from Monday to Friday
from 0930 to 1900 hours (French time) and from Saturday to Sunday 1030 to 1700
hours (French time).
Kate Jennings
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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