Saturday 16th February – Press Release No.81
JULES VERNE TROPHY
(CREWED ROUND THE WORLD VIA THE THREE CAPES)
HALF TIME?
Tasmania is already in Groupama 3’s wake and the midway point in this round the
world record attempt was therefore crossed this Saturday morning at around 0443
UT, that is after 23 days at sea! And though the Indian Ocean has now given way
to the Pacific, it is also an opportunity for Franck Cammas and his men to
rediscover some high speeds for at least the next three days!
There were two small moves to reposition themselves this morning as Groupama 3
drew a veil over the Indian Ocean after 22 days 20 hours 52 minutes and 57
seconds of sailing since leaving Ushant, that is a lead of 22 hours and 29
minutes over the reference time. Bruno Peyron and his men have nevertheless held
onto the record for crossing the Indian, between Cape Agulhas and the South of
Tasmania, albeit by just an hour! The next stage in the programme looks set to
be rather favourable for the giant trimaran however, which is likely, as it did
today, rack up several days of over 700 miles…
“We’ve just gybed and we had a small diesel leak! We’ve been making gybes to
remain in the pressure of the wind from the zone of high pressure and we have
much better conditions at the moment, even though the seas are slightly abeam of
us. We can choose where we want to be… I hope we'll have some good waves in the
Pacific: that's what is beautiful about all this and that's why we've come this
far!” enthused Steve Ravussin at today’s radio session.
Roll on Sunday!
Once again on an E'ly course, Groupama 3 is devouring the miles at an average of
over thirty knots and is set to pass Stewart Island tonight (UT) before going on
to pass the antemeridian on Sunday: it’ll be same day twice since the crew will
in this way pass into the western longitude and ‘catch-up’ with the same day,
which is something Phileas Fogg and his manservant Passepartout forgot about
during the round the world in eighty days by Jules Verne… For the time being,
the weather conditions for the next three days look very favourable without a
single manœuvre necessary aboard and above all, without the need to scan the
horizon for drifting ice since the giant trimaran will remain at 50° South. No
descent towards the SE is scheduled in this thirty knot SW’ly breeze, which may
well fill in from tomorrow. The objective now is to reach Cape Horn in less than
eight and a half days…
“We’re going to skirt Stewart Island as we are to the North of a low where
there's a fair amount of wind, but we don't yet know if we'll see it… We covered
a lot more miles than Orange II in the Indian Ocean, so if we make the same
distance as them, we should get a good time in the Pacific.. Things are shaping
up nicely as we're going to be able to slip along and the boat really is in good
condition: we have no problems with potential! As regards icebergs, we’re not
going to see any over the next few days, or the next 2,000 miles at least, as
we’re unlikely to drop very far South” detailed Steve Ravussin.
Today’s interview
Interview with Stève Ravussin, watch leaders and helmsman on Groupama 3:
“We’ve can’t see the waves at night in the same way as we see them in the day
and it's a bit more complicated, especially when there's a messy swell like the
one we've had of late. We’ve gone from -5° C this morning to 8°C now and with
a bright sun it’s immediately hotter down below… We’re happy to have passed the
midway mark since we are now on our way home! The analysis? The descent of the
Atlantic was really cool but the Indian was hard. Now, it’s the Pacific and
that’s set to be more pleasant. Groupama 3 isn’t suffering. She's very well
prepared and the crew is happy.”
http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/groupama/sr160208a_fr.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.
Next time to beat: Tasmania – Cape Horn: 8 days 18 hours 8 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 23 at 0800’ UT
*Distance covered on the water in 24 hours: 680.7 miles
*Distance covered since the start: 12,291 miles
*Distance to the finish: 12,239 miles
*Average on day 23: 28.36 knots
*Average since the start: 22.27 knots
*Lead in relation to Orange II: 444.5 miles
Find a detailed cartography at: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne
Reference times
*Ushant-equator: 6d 6h 24’ (Groupama 3 - 2008)
*Equator – Cape Agulhas: 7d 02h 22’ (Groupama 3 - 2008)
*Ushant-Cape Agulhas: 13d 08h 47’ (Groupama 3-2008)
*Ushant-Cape Leeuwin: 21d 02h 00’ (Groupama 3-2008)
*Ushant - Tasmania: 22d 20h 53’ (Groupama 3 - 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
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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