Sunday 3rd February – Press Release No.68
JULES VERNE TROPHY
(CREWED ROUND THE WORLD VIA THE THREE CAPES)
SLIGHT REPOSITIONING
After a sequence of six gybes on Saturday, Groupama 3 hooked her trajectory once
again this Sunday morning to catch onto a front, the prelude to an initial
austral low, which should push the giant trimaran at least as far as the Crozet
islands…
Whilst it is still very mild aboard Groupama 3, already positioned at 35° South,
a small series of manœuvres has enabled the crew to stretch their muscles.
Indeed, the three man watch helped by the three men on stand-by and the
off-watch navigator, had to link together six gybes in half a day on Saturday.
This was performed so as not to bury into the high pressure associated with the
Saint Helena High, whilst remaining on its southern edge to keep hold of the
pressure. This pressure has begun to fill in and, after repositioning themselves
again early this Sunday morning, Franck Cammas and his nine crew are now on a
direct course towards the tip of South Africa at an average of nearly thirty
knots in a 25 knot N to NW'ly breeze! “We had to reposition ourselves slightly a
few times towards the South and last night we hit 20-25 knots of wind, which is
now enabling us to make between 28 and 35 knots of boat speed. The nocturnal
temperatures are a little colder: the boat has been accelerating well since
Saturday evening and the seas are building progressively” explained helmsman
Sébastien Audigane at today's radio session.
As a result, the sailing conditions are almost ideal this Sunday. For her
eleventh day at sea, Groupama 3 still has a lead of over 600 miles on Orange II,
a separation which is logically set to increase as they pass the longitude of
the Cape of Good Hope. Indeed, this disturbance which is creeping up behind the
giant trimaran, will continue its course eastwards very rapidly, generating W’ly
winds in excess of 35 knots… “The seas are still manageable as we are at the
edge of a zone of high pressure and the wind has been kicking in progressively
since yesterday. It's ideal for going quick! The next two days aren't going to
be too bad, even though we may have to reposition ourselves towards the South
like yesterday in order to track down the pressure. The situation looks likely
to become more complicated shortly after the Cape of Good Hope however. We'll
have to wait and see what happens... We're sailing under cloudy skies but there
are still patches of blue. The temperatures are still high during the day but
you have to wear a fleece at night. It's still very pleasant, even though we're
being shaken about a bit at thirty knots! For the time being, the wind is steady
and the boat isn't bumping off the waves" analysed Franck Cammas this lunchtime.
We can expect three good days then at over 650 miles a day, which would carry
Groupama 3 to the South of Cape Town from Wednesday.
Today’s interview
Sébastien Audigane, second helmsman: “Four years ago on Orange II, we were able
to cut a shorter course through the Doldrums, further to the East, and we were
following roughly the same route as that of Groupama 3 today! The trimaran with
its foils is very light at about half the weight of the maxi catamaran: we can
easily make top speeds of 30-35 knots and it is very easy to go into overdrive.
I don’t know if we’ll be able to go as fast in the Deep South, but we are
sailing at practically 100% of the potential. It has to be said that we make
manoeuvres more rapidly and that we shift ballast more often. The seas of the
Indian Ocean are sometimes short and messy, which would force us to ease off the
pace more than on Orange II.
For now, we’re in pretty good shape and not too tired. There is less comfort on
Groupama 3 since there is only one habitable hull. However, we have a nice
sleeping area forward of the galley. The aft bunks are intolerable because of
the proximity of the rudder so they serve as a food store. There is always some
noise in the boat, especially at high speed, but you get used to it and you can
even tell what speed you're making when you're down below…
We’re keeping an eye on our personal hygiene and we’ve just have a saltwater
shower rinsed off with a litre of freshwater: it's feels good as it won't be
possible soon due to it being too cold in the South Seas…! The boat is clean:
yesterday, we cleaned the bilges and the day before that the deck. To fill any
spare time I have available I've brought along a book called "Gulf Stream” by
Erik Orsenna and I think everyone will read it in turn: a little history, a
little geography, it’s very interesting...”
http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/groupama/sa030208a_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
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)
Today’s figures
Start on 24th January at 07h50’17’’ UT
Arrival before Saturday 15th March 2008 at 00h09'21'' UT
Day 10 at 0800’ UT
*Distance covered on the water in 24 hours: 429.3 miles
*Distance covered since the start: 5,218 miles
*Distance to the finish: 19,312 miles
*Average on day 10: 17.89 knots
*Average since the start: 21.74 knots
*Lead in relation to Orange II: 598.2 miles
Find a detailed cartography at: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne
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
Kate Jennings
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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