Wednesday 13th February – Press Release No.78
JULES VERNE TROPHY
(CREWED ROUND THE WORLD VIA THE THREE CAPES)
IN SEARCH OF THE LOST WIND
Groupama 3 is in a bizarre situation at 51° South, just a few hundred miles from
Cape Leeuwin and unable to free itself from a strong, disruptive front… The N’ly
wind has suddenly backed to the West as it eases and their lead over the
reference time is melting like an iceberg in a tropical sea!
A chilly atmosphere and a rather morose ambiance with a colourless sky and
moonless nights, make this a far from settling experience, as Frédéric Le
Peutrec beautifully described during the radio session: “There is good humour
aboard even though it’s not easy to sail in the South at the moment. You have to
know how to be patient and wait and see what the next day brings, hoping for
better things to come: we still have a slight lead over Orange II and it’s not a
matter of life or death... The coming situation is shaping up and it doesn’t
look like it’ll be very easy to negotiate either… In times of difficulty, you
have to retain your enthusiasm and don’t sink into yourself! We are ready to
seize the opportunity which is bound to come along at some time or other."
Evanescent breeze and asthmatic puffs of air
Who would have thought the Indian Ocean, which spans 73,426,000 km² and harbours
the amazing moon fish in its waters, would suffer from such a ‘feeling of
exhaustion’! Indeed, it has slowed Groupama 3 to less than twenty knots and has
distilled her lead over Orange II to less than 400 miles! Pushed by a breathless
wind, the giant trimaran is having to make a course 90° from the direct route at
times in order to extract herself from this airless trap. Not surprisingly,
Franck Cammas and his nine crew are impatient to begin barrelling along once
more…
“We’re approaching Australia and there is some high pressure under the
continent, which is forcing us into a fairly S'ly position to pass below it. For
several days, we have been running along behind a front, which could have
enabled us to get into a N'ly wind and catch up with a high pressure airflow.
Unfortunately the front is moving a little bit quicker than us! This lunch time,
we have little air and big but manageable seas, which are enabling us to slip
along gently: the boat goes fast in these conditions, which is one of its great
qualities… We’ve just gybed to make ground towards the SE. We’re hunting for a
way through under fairly clear skies, with some pretty cold temperatures and the
water at 6°C, but it's not at all wet on deck! One dry day under full mainsail,
gennaker and staysail… It’s a bit frustrating and we are impatient to find a
constant wind: we’re managing a few bursts of speed but it's difficult linking
these moves together. You can feel that Groupama 3 has the power under her
bonnet and that she has the potential to outdistance Orange II without any
problem!” enthused Fred Le Peutrec in conclusion.
Cape Leeuwin won’t be a very positive passage point for Groupama 3 then, which
has conceded a considerable amount of ground in relation to the reference time.
However, the giant trimaran is still likely to improve on the record established
by Orange II in 2005 by crossing the Indian Ocean (Cape Agulhas – Southern
Tasmania) in less than 9 days 11 hours 4 minutes.
Today’s interview
Interview with Frédéric Le Peutrec, second helmsman
“Each of us has sufficient experience on the water to understand what’s
happening, that the systems are not homogenous. It’s no secret: to helm well you
have to know where you’re going! The information usually circulates to the
rhythm of the digital files…”
http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/groupama/flp130208b_fr_e.mp3
“It’s nightfall for us: we’re getting to the other end of the globe so our
rhythms are the diametric opposite of yours! We’ve switched over onto Australian
time: shifting three hours in three hours. The aim is to remain in phase with
the local time so as we can have our breakfast in the morning and not in the
middle of the night… We're sleeping well at the moment because we’re not being
shaken about too much and sleep is better at night. We don’t always sleep during
our look out watch, which enables us to do odd jobs, prepare the meals, clean
the bilges, dry clothes…
The more time goes on, the more our little community distances itself from the
outside world on land… but thanks to emails, we can regularly make exchanges in
writing. We get our mail everyday! Sometimes there’s a queue in front of the
computer… We can have news of everything that is happening on land and we
discuss all the various subjects quite a lot, from politics, to love, to sport,
to families... and sometimes, there are some great moments of silence! It’s not
a boat of quiet people… but there aren't any slanging matches either!”
http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/groupama/flp130208a_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
Today’s figures
Start on 24th January at 07h50’17’’ UT
Arrival before Saturday 15th March 2008 at 00h09'21'' UT
Day 20 at 0800’ UT
*Distance covered on the water in 24 hours: 562.2 miles
*Distance covered since the start: 10,645 miles
*Distance to the finish: 13,885 miles
*Average on day 20: 23.42 knots
*Average since the start: 22.18 knots
*Lead in relation to Orange II: 434.2 miles
Find a detailed cartography at: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne
* Ushant to the equator: 6d 6h 24’ (Groupama 3 in 2008)
* Equator – Cape Agulhas: 7d 02h 22’ (Groupama 3 in 2008) * Ushant – Cape
Agulhas: 13d 08h 47’ (Groupama 3 in 2008)
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
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