30.04.2011
Groupama 4 safely into port
This Saturday morning, at 0545 GMT, Groupama 4 left the Multiplast
yard in Vannes, SW Brittany. After a delivery by road, Franck Cammas’ new
Volvo Open 70 arrived at Groupama Sailing Team’s base in nearby Lorient at
0830 hours, a moment the whole team had been looking forward to.
After 40,000 man hours, the first Volvo Open 70 to be built in France
emerged from the yard today. In the early hours of this morning, the members
of Groupama Sailing Team gathered together to organise the special wide load
comprising Franck Cammas’ VO 70.
Stéphane Guilbaud, Team Manager of Groupama Sailing Team, was responsible
for the wide load from beginning to end: “We left at daybreak because we
were keen to have a safe journey. The start of the trip, in Vannes, was
pretty complicated to manage as there wasn’t a lot of room for manoeuvre.
The trees prevented us from moving the boat initially. After that we had to
traverse a zone were construction materials were stored. We also had to
negotiate some ‘classic’ roundabouts which were complicated to get across.
Despite all that the delivery trip went really smoothly…”
Indeed the transport of Groupama 4 should have taken three or even
four hours, but the shore crew, with assistance from Volvo Trucks, managed
to complete the transfer in just 2 hours 45 minutes.
Stéphane Guilbaud: “The whole team got together for the occasion… It’s a
real high point: the end of the construction of the boat also means that the
first sea trial is approaching. For all of us it’s the culmination of 11
months of work”.
Prior to the launch, scheduled for 10 May, there is still a
substantial jobs’ list for Groupama Sailing Team, as the skipper of
Groupama, Franck Cammas highlights: “This is a very fine stage in the
history of the project: Groupama 4 has finally made it to the base and we
have her in front of us! The team will be able to work on her day and night
now to fine tune the VO70 with a view to her launch. It’s almost done: we
have to finish the electrics and fit the keel, mast and deck hardware, even
though the latter has already been pre-assembled.”
The crew still has some work to do then before the monohull is ready to
criss-cross the oceans. Indeed the final steps must be performed by the
sailors themselves because they’re the ones who will be tasked with Groupama
4’s upkeep during the various stages of the Volvo Ocean Race. Franck Cammas:
“It’s really important that the boat is at the base with us as it really
saves time: that will guarantee a quick launch. We’re happy to have such a
fine engine almost ready to go sailing. She has some fine lines and we’re
keen to trial her on the water. The Multiplast yard has really done a good
job. It’s over to us now to finish it off…”
Ten intense days are in prospect then for Groupama Sailing Team but their
spirits are high and the desire to go sailing is very much in evidence…
Technical specifications for Groupama 4:
LOA: 21.50m
Beam: 5.70m
Water draught: 4.50m
Displacement: 14 tonnes
Keel: swing
Material: carbon honeycomb sandwich
Upwind sails: 315m²
Downwind sails: 675m²
Architect: Juan Kouyoumdjian
A communications project to support the group’s internationalisation.
For more than 13 years, Groupama has chosen sailing sponsorship as a lever
to support its strategy for growth in the service of its clients. One of the
France’s leading insurance firms and the 15th largest insurer in Europe, the
Group boasts a turnover of 17.6 thousand million Euros (2010). Groupama is
accelerating its international development and aims to become one of the top
10 European insurers.
Established in 14 countries, the Group comprises 39,000 employees, including
11,000 overseas, where it achieves 30% of its turnover. The commitment to a
more international sporting project through until 2015 has to support the
construction of a European insurance group and a bank which is a creator, a
humanist and something that lasts.
www.groupama.com
The Volvo Ocean Race
A crewed round the world race with stopovers, the Volvo Ocean Race, formerly
known as the Whitbread, will set out from Alicante (Spain) on 5 November
2011 for its eleventh edition. Spanning 9 months and 10 stopovers, the
participating crews will cover over 39,270 miles over 4 oceans. The race
will conclude in Galway (Ireland) on 7 July 2012 after making a stopover in
Lorient, France, Groupama Sailing Team’s base, from 16 June to 1 July 2012.
Groupama 4 is the first French boat to compete in the event since 1993.
www.volvooceanrace.com
www.cammas-groupama.com
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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