Franck Cammas on board Groupama 3. Image copyright Team Groupama.
by Vincent Borde and Caroline Muller
The time spent dipping into the red seems to be over now: Groupama 3 is making supersonic average speeds again, a situation which should last throughout her crossing of the Indian Ocean, as long as the front maintains the same eastward pace. With Orange 2 not being particularly quick over this section of the Jules Verne Trophy, Franck Cammas and his men are beginning to claw back their deficit...
Relative worry has given way to moderate optimism now... Such is life at sea with its share of stresses and up and downs at the mercy of the barometric yo-yoing. The situation for Groupama 3 hasn't been very favourable for nearly 48 hours now, with a front dictating the every changing pace, leading to a succession of course changes to try to break through it. Attempts proved to be in vain, but in return a steadier breeze has finally kicked in prior to another shift to the NW...
"We're lacking a bit of wind, but we're very hopeful for a change in situation tonight. The boat hasn't been under pressure, despite the fairly lively conditions yesterday, and the crew know the region well! This Wednesday lunchtime we have a moderate S'ly wind, due to being at the back of the front; a front we're not managing to traverse. We've had to gybe and as we've become separated from the front, a 14-15 knot breeze has been pushing us along due East. If everything goes to plan the front is likely to come to a standstill this evening, at which point we should finally hook onto a NW'ly wind! As such we'll be able to make good speed again on course to Cape Leeuwin..." explained Franck Cammas at the 1130 UTC radio link-up with Groupama's Race HQ in Paris, in the presence of Norbert Métairie, mayor of the giant trimaran's home port of Lorient. Also on the line was Thierry Fouchier, crew on BMW Oracle, the recent winner of the 33rd America's Cup and loyal crew to Franck on Groupama 2 and Groupama 40.
A favourable system
Albatross sighted! Image copyright Team Groupama.
Indeed the wind will shift round to the NW from Thursday morning, a breeze which could push Groupama 3 all the way to the exit from the Indian Ocean! However, given that this particular phenomenon is moving very swiftly, Franck Cammas and his nine crew will have to keep up an average speed bordering on 32 knots for several days... The separation in relation to the reference time, which had dipped to an all time low of around 400 miles over the course of Tuesday night, is now beginning to shrink again: Orange 2 wasn't very quick at this stage of the Jules Verne Trophy, even having to deal with a very slow transition phase...
"The weather systems are leading us on a fairly N'ly trajectory, but that's not such a bad thing if we are to avoid the icebergs situated next to the Kerguelen Islands. We didn't take the risk of plunging further South because we might have found ourselves getting mixed up in a depression to port (and hence headwinds), which really wouldn't be great! However, our decision to remain here means that we will have to maintain a high average speed in order to stay with this favourable system."
And though the race record is the key objective for the crew of Groupama 3, the length of time on the water is enabling them to make the most of the very special atmosphere in the Indian Ocean. Of course the latter is sometimes synonymous with seascapes coloured by fog, grey skies, rain and nights without a moon, as is the case right now. However, the Deep South also has the ability to change very quickly...
"We've got a little time to admire the décor, with the colours and light which are unique to this area! The flight of the albatrosses is really majestic too... There wingspan is impressive when they're flying in front of the bows! There haven't been a lot of marine mammals though, just two little sharks which got caught up in the foil. With the swell hitting us bow on, we're not really getting wet, though it is getting colder with the Antarctic wind. We haven't fired up the heating down below to dry our clothes yet..."
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)
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'
The crew and organisation aboard Groupama 3
• Watch No.1: Franck Cammas / Loïc Le Mignon / Jacques Caraës
• Watch No.2: Stève Ravussin / Thomas Coville / Bruno Jeanjean
• Watch No.3: Fred Le Peutrec / Lionel Lemonchois / Ronan Le Goff
• Off watch navigator: Stan Honey goes up on deck for manoeuvres
• One watch system on deck, one watch on stand-by ready to help manoeuvre, one watch totally resting
The record to beat
Currently held by Bruno Peyron on Orange 2 since 2005 with a time of 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes at an average of 17.89 knots. Lionel Lemonchois, Ronan Le Goff and Jacques Caraës were aboard at the time.
Cammas - Groupama
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