Sturmvideo
23.11.2009
JULES VERNE TROPHY
(CREWED ROUND THE WORLD VIA THE THREE CAPES)
Time to beat: 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes and 4 seconds
head down but an unfailing morale
Tied up alongside in the port of Cape Town since Saturday, Groupama 3
certainly isn’t being left in peace, far from it in fact. Barely had she
reached the dock, then the shore crew managed by Yann Mérour, all of whom
had made the trip down from Lorient, had taken control of matters with the
assistance of the sailors. Structural analysis of the damage and
observations made on site by composite specialists, confirm that it will
indeed take a week’s work before Groupama 3 can head out to sea again, bound
for Brest, for a new stand-by period set to begin on 1st January 2010.
Benefiting from the technical means available in the Shosholoza base (a team
which participated in the 32nd edition of the America’s Cup), Pierre
Tissier, Sandy Blanalt, Sarah Lynch and Eric Beylot are all working on
Groupama 3’s port float. In a dry, oppressive heat, which is favourable for
working on carbon, they have begun by cutting out the faulty bulkhead and
then constructing its replacement: “It’s never easy to work in such a
confined space. Luckily this bulkhead is very close to the access hatch
though. This enables us to poke our heads out into the fresh air on a
regular basis. It certainly is hot though!” says Eric Beylot, who is almost
missing the gloomy weather reigning back home in Brittany.
Having made the journey down from Johannesburg, three infra-red analysis
specialists have inspected the affected zone without finding any
side-effects. This is a good thing according to the skipper of Groupama 3,
who only rarely leaves his telephone, as he’s in regular contact with his
design office, the architects from the VPLP and HDS: “By running the data
through their computers again, they’ve realised that the load case which
concerns us today was not intended to exceed six tonnes. The sailing
conditions we endured very certainly produced greater stresses than that.
This is why we’re also going to reinforce the equivalent bulkhead on the
starboard float” explains Franck.
As far as the rest of Groupama 3 is concerned though, she’s in perfect
condition, ready to head back out to sea and set off once again to tackle
this famous Jules Verne Trophy record, the value of which can now be
appreciated even more: “It’s clear that in order to stand a chance of
beating it, we’re going to have to go fast. We’re also going to have to go
far, which we haven’t managed to do to date. It’s now down to us to prove
we’re capable of that. From the moment the damage occurred, the whole crew
have expressed their commitment to this. I’m proud of them and also proud of
Groupama 3, which is an excellent boat. The same goes for my loyal partner,
Groupama who, once again, are giving us their support in what is a difficult
time” concludes Franck Cammas.
During this time, the rest of the crew are rinsing off the deck fittings and
foulies, tidying up their ‘home’ and inspecting the deck from top to toe.
Certain lines, such as those which control the descent and rise of the
foils, are worn and have been replaced. When it’s time for lunch,
conversations regularly revolve around the anecdotes experienced during the
first 11 days of this Jules Verne Trophy attempt. These are always coloured
by laughter which demonstrates, if there were a need, the extent of the bond
between the ten crew, who together form a great team.
Find all the latest about the Groupama trimarans on:
www.cammas-groupama.com
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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