Franck Cammas on track for the 3rd time

Returning to cross the finish line off Ushant before 06h 14’ 57’’ on 23rd March : such is the objective the ten men aboard the trimaran have set themselves in order to snatch the round the world record, that is within one minute of the reference time… Indeed Groupama 3 must complete the course spanning more than 21,600 miles, in less than 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes ; the reference time for the Jules Verne Trophy set by Bruno Peyron and his crew in 2005.

Franck Cammas and his nine crew set off at 13h 55’ 53’’ (UTC) on their third attempt. It would appear to have less favourable conditions than those on the two previous attempts (January 2008 and November 2009), however the extremely tight timing for hooking onto the next weather system as they pass Cape Finisterre and then the Canaries remains positive nonetheless. Indeed the weather routing gives a rough time of five and a half to six and a half days for reaching the equator ! This translates as a very acceptable time for maintaining sufficient room for manœuvre with a view to Orange 2’s trajectory in 2005…

The most uncertain phase relates to the passage of Cape Finisterre as the weather window is a very short one, stretching to three hours tops according to the weather models ! By setting off early, just after the passage of a fairly inactive cold front with rain, Groupama 3 is increasing her chances of making the Spanish headland on schedule and then skirting closely round it. Such a trajectory is shaping up to be pretty favourable since a low has settled itself in a S’ly position level with the Canaries. As it fills in on site, it should enable the crew to benefit from a steady N’ly breeze, giving way to a system of regular tradewinds.

From Monday morning the crew of Groupama 3 will know whether they’ve been able to respect the timing, but once the uncertainty is over, the giant trimaran will be able to lengthen her stride… And though the trajectory is very direct and close to the great circle route, enabling big gains in terms of optimising the course time, the price is an increase in the number of manœuvres to be performed. As such the crew, who packed their bags at noon on Saturday, are likely to be into the thick of the action from the off. Setting out with full mainsail and solent, they’ll have to swiftly put in a reef and change down to a smaller headsail as the N’ly breeze picks up in the Bay of Biscay (up to 25-30 knots). After this it’s a transition phase off Cape Finisterre which is likely to concern the crew at the end of the night… This will be the first tricky stage, which they cannot afford to miss !

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