24.02.2004
Orange II - Stopover beendet.
It's been a short stopover! Only 48 hours will have been necessary for the whole shore team (technicians, designers, yard, crane operators) to repair the giant's damaged hull.
Re-launched this afternoon around 16:00 right in front of the Défi Français base in Lorient, the Orange II maxi-catamaran is back in the starting blocks. Bruno Peyron and Roger Nilson (navigator) have indicated they could set off sometime between tomorrow and Thursday. Bruno Peyron: "I sincerely wish to congratulate all the teams that have reacted so promptly, worked day and night in order to get the boat back on the track on such short notice. This race against time will hopefully allow us to take another start with the best schedule possible. We're doing everything to have the boat ready to leave Lorient tomorrow, in order to catch a weather window, which will be open between Wednesday and Thursday. No changes on board as far as the crew's concerned, everybody signed their name on the list once more!
Orange II should leave the dock tomorrow late in the afternoon, the head for the Jules Verne Trophy starting line, which could be crossed on Thursday between 06:00 and 12:00 French time.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Bruno Peyron and the crew of Orange II will hold a last press conference before leaving the dock, on Wednesday 25th at 15:00, on the Défi Français base in Lorient (former Keroman submarine base).
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Fotos: "G. Martin-Raget/Orange"
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