Lionel Lemonchois gets 50 at sea

Indeed he was in great spirits during the radio link-up this Tuesday lunchtime when he spoke to Groupama’s Race HQ in Paris :

 “We have twenty-five to twenty-eight knots and we’re picking our way along nicely ! We’re sailing along the edge of the low over Madeira and the temperatures are considerably milder than yesterday… It’s rather grey, but it’s beginning to turn out nice. Added to that, to be able to celebrate your half-century aboard Groupama 3 on another round the world, I couldn’t wish for better ! I’ll be able to avoid the hangover too…"

Attention remains key though as they prepare to tackle the wind shift due to take place this afternoon : the N’ly wind will give way to a NW’ly breeze, which will drop off to the South of the Canaries. Once again a barrier of high pressure will move across and it is imperative that Groupama 3 quickly locates the NE’ly tradewinds, which are reorganising themselves offshore of the Mauritanian coast.

 “We’re already back into our rhythm without taking any chances with the boat : we’re here to effortlessly and calmly manage a circumnavigation of the planet… We’re in the process of unfurling the heavy airs gennaker, as we’ve been making twenty-eight to thirty knots under solent jib and one reef in the mainsail up till now. The sea isn’t very organised, but over the coming hours, we’re likely to have got through the strongest wind. Five years ago, we weren’t very quick on Orange 2. I was with Ronan Le Goff and Jacques Caraës at the time. Maybe in five years time I’ll be here again !” enthused Lionel Lemonchois before sampling the meal prepared specially for him by Frédéric Le Peutrec. There are now just 2,000 miles to go to reach the equator…

 Pres info www.cammas-groupama.com