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Thomas Coville, embarks as helmsman on Groupama 3 for the Jules Verne Trophy
Right away, Thomas Coville puts paid to any discussions about his latest
adventure by affirming that “round the world experiences are sufficiently
rare that you’re keen to take advantage of them”
As such, back in the spring, when Franck Cammas invited him on a delivery
trip aboard Groupama 3 between Lorient and Istanbul, the round the world
sailor raised an eyebrow, smiled, threw his bag aboard and set off with the
crew on the Mediterranean record.
“Even though Banque Populaire set a
brilliant record across the North Atlantic, Groupama 3 remains a reference
in terms of her fine tuning and her crew. It’s a long term project with a
boat which is honed and very well prepared. Franck has brought together a
dream cast. On board I’m the helmsman on the watch with Steve Ravussin and
Bruno Jeanjean, the latter being on the bow.”
With a view to the Route du Rhum 2010, Thomas recognises that he is happy to
be back on the competition trail: “It’s been almost four years since I began
doing solo records. I helm, I devour the miles, I’m in contact with the
elements but I miss the confrontation.”
In this highly competitive domain, the skipper of Sodeb’O and helmsman
aboard Groupama 3 is in pursuit of the same thing as Franck and the others
who will be aboard: excellence. “Franck has measured what each of us could
bring to the boat. This is translated into figures and percentages. It’s
brutal and final. We measure the speed, the resistance and the performance.
And that works because none of us have anything to prove.”
As far as Thomas is concerned, Franck was attracted by his enthusiasm for
taking part in his round the world adventure. “Physically and mentally, I
know we can count on him. It’s important to be able to count on the guys
during the difficult moments we’re bound to encounter along the way.” Though
the skipper of Groupama 3 recognises that he’s never had any doubt as to
Thomas’ helming qualities: “thanks to his multihull experience in the
Southern Ocean, he has the ideal profile for getting the boat to make
headway”, he also appreciates that they are from the same generation: “we
see things in the same way. There’s no need to speak to each other.”
Crew photo on the Sodeb’O website:
http://www.sodebo-voile.com/actu/news/546-NEWS-Thomas-Coville-embarque-comme
-barreur-sur-Groupama-3-pour-le-Trophee-Jules-Verne.html
Photo: The crew of Groupama 3: top row from left to right: Bruno Jeanjean,
Thomas Coville, Frédéric Le Peutrec, Loick Le Mignon, Stan Honey. Bottom
row, Lionel Lemonchois, Jacques Caraës, Steve Ravussin, Franck Cammas, Ronan
Le Goff. Credit: Yvan Zedda/Groupama
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
To update your contact details please email:
katejennings@free.fr
20.10.2009 - TEN SAILORS ON A MISSION TO CONQUER THE JULES VERNE TROPHY ABOARD GROUPAMA 3
19.10.2009 - Thomas Coville, embarks as helmsman on Groupama 3 for the Jules Verne Trophy
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