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13.11.2009
JULES VERNE TROPHY
(CREWED ROUND THE WORLD VIA THE THREE CAPES)
Time to beat: 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes and 4 seconds
Friday 13th November – Press release No.10
Checkpoint
After eight days at sea, Groupama 3 is currently in a transition phase,
which is causing her to lose part of her lead over the reference time in the
Jules Verne Trophy. However, this passage across a ridge of high pressure is
only set to last a little less than 24 hours and Franck Cammas and his crew
are still managing an average speed in excess of 23 knots…
Getting around the Saint Helena High is always a key moment during the Jules
Verne Trophy as it’s not easy to know, just a matter of hours away, how the
gusts of hot Brazilian air will transform into a stormy depression system
and head off towards South Africa. This is especially true when you have to
set out from Ushant, nearly 5,000 miles away! In fact, the weather window
heralding the start of this particular record attempt on 5th November,
collectively chosen by the onshore weather router Sylvain Mondon from Météo
France, Groupama 3’s navigator Stan Honey and in the final instance by
skipper Franck Cammas, forecast a series of disturbances forming off Brazil.
However, there is clearly a margin of error in knowing exactly where the
point of impact will be. In reality, this margin of error has proved to be
fairly slim since the encounter is due to take place from Saturday morning
off Rio de Janeiro…
Beneath the Southern Cross
This Friday lunchtime, Lionel Lemonchois indicated at the radio link-up that
this short Brazilian detour wasn’t spoiling the atmosphere onboard in the
slightest, as it only amounted to a few tens of miles lost, which were going
to simply modify the manner in which they sail.
“We have discussions on a daily basis about what’s going to happen over the
coming hours: in a nutshell, it’s already been three or four days that we’ve
known how the weather conditions in the Southern Atlantic are going to pan
out. As such we’re not surprised that we’re losing ground this Friday, even
though we’re still sailing well this lunchtime. On a circumnavigation of the
globe, you can’t make up ground everyday. There are transition phases like
this one today, but the next stage is shaping up to be pretty good… We also
have a little room for manoeuvre in relation to Orange 2! However, we’ll
soon be getting out our boots and fleeces: we’re losing a little heat every
night. At the moment, we’re carrying all the sail aloft with full mainsail,
staysail and large gennaker. We’re slipping along nicely with fourteen knots
of wind beneath a glorious sun. At night, the canopy of heaven is dotted
with stars, while the Southern Cross is getting ever higher in the sky!”
Just minutes later, Groupama 3 was beginning to bend her trajectory
southward, and then progressively SE, whilst still maintaining an average
speed of over 22 knots. Clearly, in accounting terms, the overall
performance figures are less flattering since this course 60° off the direct
route since the latitude of Recife, has seen them lose ground: 380 miles VMG
over 24 hours along the Jules Verne Trophy course, but still a daily total
of 550 miles across the water! In short, the reduction in terms of bankable
mileage is going unnoticed on board, it’s only in relation to Bruno Peyron’s
course that there is some discrepancy. Indeed, it is worth noting here that
Franck Cammas and his nine crew have been on a route which is virtually
parallel to that of Orange 2 since crossing the equator; the latter of which
was achieved nearly 5° further out to the West. Between now and Saturday
lunchtime, the slow haemorrhage (30 mile deficit in 48 hours or a
differential of 0.6 knots) will be totally cauterised by the powerful N’ly
winds forecast…
Hanging a left…
In fact there has not been a hint of concern in the voices of the crew
speaking at the radio link-up since setting out from Ushant: the atmosphere
onboard is serene and concentrated, relaxed yet attentive. Groupama 3 hasn’t
suffered and the crew have been able to rest in the current mild weather
prior to the wintery climes of the Deep South … Indeed with the seas
abating, pushed along by a moderate breeze on the beam, Franck Cammas and
his men have scheduled in a complete check-up for the rig on Saturday
morning, prior to the arrival of the Brazilian low. A torrid, bracing
weekend is in store!
“We’re into a good rhythm because Groupama 3 is designed in such a way that
we can rest. The days pass by quickly between sleep, a few odd jobs, a few
hours at the helm and on watch, and contemplation of the sea. However, we’re
not inundated with maintenance work… There’s just one line which is becoming
a bit worn on the descent control for one of the foils. We’ve only had nice
surprises so far: we’ve even had some real laughs! We’re lucky to be on a
very fine boat… with a superb crew where there is mutual trust between us.
For the time being, we’ve got some fairly good conditions for slipping along
in. The Jules Verne Trophy is a marathon above all else: we’re going to have
to keep it going over the long term and from this point of view, Franck
(Cammas) has an approach which is very similar to that of Bruno Peyron,
which involves a great deal of wisdom” concluded the winner of the Route du
Rhum 2006.
The crew and organisation aboard Groupama 3:
* Watch No.1: Franck Cammas / Loïc Le Mignon / Jacques Caraës
* Watch No.2: Stève Ravussin / Thomas Coville / Bruno Jeanjean
* Watch No.3: Fred Le Peutrec / Lionel Lemonchois / Ronan Le Goff
* Off watch navigator: Stan Honey goes up on deck for manoeuvres
* Each watch lasts three hours
* One watch system on deck, one watch on stand-by ready to help
manœuvre, one watch totally resting
The record to beat
Currently held by Bruno Peyron on Orange 2 since 2005 with a time of 50 days
16 hours 20 minutes at an average of 17.89 knots. Lionel Lemonchois, Ronan
Le Goff and Jacques Caraës were aboard at the time.
Race HQ, 21 Bld Malesherbes, 75008 Paris
Open to the public from 0930 to 1900 hours
Daily telephone link-up from 1130 to 1200 hours
Weekly videoconference on Thursdays from 1230 to 1330 hours
Find all the latest about the Groupama trimarans on:
www.cammas-groupama.com
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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