Groupe Bel. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.martinraget.com
by Kito de Pavant
Groupe Bel left Port Camargue this Monday, 4 October in the direction of St. Malo, from where he will set off for the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale, on 31 October 2010.
This delivery will take about eight days, with 3 crewmen on board and no less than 2,000 miles to clock up in conditions that will not necessarily be ideal. This crossing will serve as a real-life test, a general rehearsal, in anticipation of the fight awaiting the 60 footers on their way to Pointe à Pitre. It will also be an opportunity for Seb Audigane, future co-skipper of Group Bel, to find his bearings with a view to the Barcelona World Race.
Kito de Pavant:
“And we’re off again. The Mistral has taken over from the strong southerly that pinned us to the harbor for a few days. We are taking advantage of this to glide towards the Balearic Islands. The weather conditions are difficult for the beginning of this journey but we know that things should improve by this time Tuesday. In the meantime, the night will be humid and uncomfortable for Brice, Gwen, Seb and myself.
"A northwesterly at 30 to 35 knots is expected and the deck is already submerged by waves, which should get rid of the dust from the week’s work.
"I am getting back into my good habit of sending you news from on board.”
In French:
Groupe Bel. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.martinraget.com
Nous voilà repartis. Le mistral a remplacé le vent fort de sud qui nous clouait au port depuis quelques jours. Nous en "profitons" pour glisser vers les Baléares. Les conditions sont difficiles pour un début de convoyage mais on sait que tout devrait s'améliorer ce mardi. En attendant, la nuit sera humide et inconfortable pour Brice, Gwen, Seb et moi même.
30 a 35 nœuds de Nord Ouest sont au programme et le pont est déjà submergé par les vagues, ce qui permet de nettoyer la poussière des travaux de la semaine....
Je reprends donc les bonnes habitudes de vous envoyer les nouvelles du bord.
Groupe Bel
La Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale
