Groupama 3. Image copyright Team Groupama.
by Vincent Borde and Caroline Muller
Benefiting from a continuation of the favourable weather conditions, Groupama 3 is still powering across the Indian Ocean at an average of over thirty knots. Surfing in big seas, Franck Cammas and crew are reducing the deficit which separates them from the Jules Verne Trophy holder.
Though the rain has passed and the sun is back, the dress code for the men on watch on the deck of Groupama 3 hasn't changed: foulies and drysuits are proving essential in the very steady thirty knots or so of NW'ly wind: "Things are going very well. The sun's been out for a few hours so it's very pleasant; more so than yesterday in any case" Jacques Caraës comments during the daily link-up with Groupama's Jules Verne HQ.
"We're sailing at a very high pace but despite that we're being careful. The seas are becoming better organised and Groupama 3 is making good speed under reefed mainsail, staysail and gennaker. It's better than yesterday when the seas were messier. We're going quite fast, very fast even" continues the bowman and onboard cameraman.
When a men who is on his fifth round the world talks of a high pace and fast, or even very fast speeds, suffice to say that life aboard the maxi trimaran must be difficult...
"When you go up forward to unfurl the gennaker, you hook yourself on. Stability is all relative and, with fatigue added to the mix, you have to remain prudent. It's fairly exposed. The helmsman is our guardian angel. He has our lives in his hands. The tether is very short on our harnesses so as we don't go over the side if we're ejected" adds the sailor who goes by the nickname of Jaco.
Sailing Groupama 3. Image copyright Team Groupama.
Though the men are tired, but still going strong, the equipment breaks sometimes: "Last night the screen which protects the helmsman broke in two on Thomas' head. We've lashed it together with some Spectra line and Lionel (Lemonchois) and Loïc (Le Mignon) have made up some new repair strips from material they found onboard".
Whilst we're concerned about Thomas' health, Jacques Caraës explains: "It's the screen we lashed back together. Coville's head is made of solid stuff...".
Having set off twenty days ago, the crew are gradually losing the references, which usually punctuate their lives: "I can't really recall if we've had lunch or not" replies Jacques Caraës when he's wished "bon appétit". "Nor what time it is" he continues.
Groupama 3's log (departure on 31st January at 13h 55' 53'' UTC)
Day 1 (1st February 1400 UTC): 500 miles (deficit = 94 miles)
Day 2 (2nd February 1400 UTC): 560 miles (lead = 3.5 miles)
Day 3 (3rd February 1400 UTC): 535 miles (lead = 170 miles)
Day 4 (4th February 1400 UTC): 565 miles (lead = 245 miles)
Day 5 (5th February 1400 UTC): 656 miles (lead = 562 miles)
Day 6 (6th February 1400 UTC): 456 miles (lead = 620 miles)
Day 7 (7th February 1400 UTC): 430 miles (lead = 539 miles)
Day 8 (8th February 1400 UTC): 305 miles (lead = 456 miles)
Day 9 (9th February 1400 UTC): 436 miles (lead = 393 miles)
Day 10 (10th February 1400 UTC): 355 miles (lead = 272 miles)
Day 11 (11th February 1400 UTC): 267 miles (deficit = 30 miles)
Day 12 (12th February 1400 UTC): 247 miles (deficit = 385 miles)
Day 13 (13th February 1400 UTC): 719 miles (deficit = 347 miles)
Day 14 (14th February 1400 UTC): 680 miles (deficit = 288 miles)
Day 15 (15th February 1400 UTC): 651 miles (deficit = 203 miles)
Day 16 (16th February 1400 UTC): 322 miles (deficit = 376 miles)
Day 17 (17th February 1400 UTC): 425 miles (deficit = 338 miles)
Day 18 (18th February 1400 UTC): 362 miles (deficit = 433 miles)
Day 19 (19th February 1400 UTC): 726 miles (deficit = 234 miles)
Day 20 (20th February 1400 UTC): 751 miles (deficit = 211 miles)
WSSRC record for traversing the Indian Ocean (from Cape Agulhas to Southern Tasmania)
Orange 2 (2005): 9d 11h 04'
Reference time from Cape Agulhas to Cape Leeuwin
Orange 2 (2005): 7d 05h 35'
Cammas - Groupama
No comments:
Post a Comment