Still in the high pressure which is stagnating off Argentina, Groupama 3 is trying to make as much headway as possible to the North. In order to do this, Franck Cammas and his men are having to tack in line with every shift to exploit these transitions: seven tack changes have been made since Sunday afternoon. 

Very attentive to the slightest wind shift since this weekend, Franck Cammas and navigator Stan Honey are remaining concentrated to exploit these rotations. Right now it’s very much like a virtual race against Orange 2 with five years separation, and the giant trimaran is rather at ease since she has been designed for these light to moderate headwinds. However, the crew of Groupama 3 is having to react very quickly all the same, which isn’t always easy at night, beneath an overcast sky and a waning moon. As such they’re zigzagging their way northward.

“In high pressure conditions such as these, there is always a discrepancy between the grib files and the actual situation on the water: at the moment, we’ve fallen into a zone of light winds, probably due to a big squall to our right… The breeze should pick up radically at sunset to pump out 30-40 knots of E’ly on our beam: as such we’re going to have to reduce the sail area and even set the heavy airs jib! We’ve got some work on our hands because the wind isn’t as steady as all that… However, we’ve recovered well from the fatigue we’d amassed in the Deep South” indicated Franck Cammas at the 1130 UTC radio link-up with Groupama’s Race HQ in Paris. 

 

Kissing the sea
With the central hull just kissing the surface of the water, the helmsmen are taking it in turns to keep the giant trimaran making headway on a single leeward float and at around 0900 UTC, Groupama 3 had put in her final tack change of the day. Indeed the wind had clocked round to the N and was gradually shifting round to the NE early this afternoon: the average speed was increasing to in excess of twenty knots again and the separation between her and Orange 2 was beginning to stabilise at 325 miles…

“The boat is really light and highly responsive, which makes it easy to tack since we don’t need to do any stacking (shifting of moveable ballast). Furthermore, Groupama 3 is less heavy than when she left Ushant and you can really feel the difference because we’ve consumed a good hundred kilos or so of diesel and food… It’s the first time we’ve been on a beat since 31st January. We’re back on a route taking us almost due North until Tuesday morning, at which point we’ll have to put in some more tacks to reach the tradewinds, which are still some 700 miles ahead of our bows. The temperatures are already milder, with overcast skies, but we’re still sporting our foulies on deck!”

Franck Cammas estimated that he couldn’t have a deficit of more than a day on crossing the equator! As such the pressure’s really on over this phase of the course. Indeed Orange 2 only began to slow as she approached the latitude of Rio de Janeiro, but then her climb up to Recife proved to be fairly laboured. In fact it’s becoming an increasingly established fact that bagging the Jules Verne Trophy record is still uncertain and everything will depend on their progress off Brazil… 

 

Multiple manoeuvres
As a result the aim of Franck Cammas and his men is to progress northward as quickly as possible, but there’s not really any alternative in terms of the general strategy: Groupama 3 will have to close on the coast of South America, without getting too close to the shores of Brazil, where some stormy lows generating variable winds are in the process of forming… Therefore the next phase will involve a great deal of activity in the cockpit of the giant trimaran as the crew will have to link together multiple manoeuvres.

“Groupama 3 is exiting the anticyclone in winds of around twenty knots, which are increasing in strength as they begin to veer: this will enable her to bend her course round from this afternoon, whilst simultaneously picking up the pace. However, from Tuesday evening and through until Thursday, the crew will have to negotiate a stormy zone along the shores of Brazil…” explained Sylvain Mondon from Météo France. 

 

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): 672 miles (deficit = 211 miles)
Day 21 (21th February 1400 UTC): 584 miles (deficit = 124 miles)
Day 22 (22nd February 1400 UTC): 607 miles (deficit = 137 miles)
Day 23 (23rd February 1400 UTC): 702 miles (lead = 60 miles)
Day 24 (24th February 1400 UTC): 638 miles (lead = 208 miles)
Day 25 (25th February 1400 UTC): 712 miles (lead = 371 miles)
Day 26 (26th February 1400 UTC): 687 miles (lead = 430 miles)
Day 27 (27th February 1400 UTC): 797 miles (lead = 560 miles)
Day 27 (27th February 1400 UTC): 560 miles (lead = 517 miles)
Day 29 (1st March 1400 UTC): 434 miles (lead = 268 miles)
Day 30 (2nd March 1400 UTC): 575 miles (lead = 184 miles)
Day 31 (3rd March 1400 UTC): 617 miles (lead = 291 miles)
Day 32 (4th March 1400 UTC): 492 miles (lead = 248 miles)
Day 33 (5th March 1400 UTC): 445 miles (lead = 150 miles)
Day 34 (6th March 1400 UTC): 461 miles (lead = 58 miles)
Day 35 (7th March 1400 UTC): 382 miles (deficit = 100 miles)
Day 36 (8th March 1400 UTC): 317 miles (deficit = 326 miles)

WSSRC record from equator to equator
Orange 2 (2005): 33d 16h 06′

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On a perfectly rectilinear course since rounding Cape Horn, Groupama 3 is continuing her ascent of the Southern Atlantic by cleverly limiting the haemorrhage of miles lost in relation to the Jules Verne Trophy champion. Furthermore, they are in no way losing sight of the fact that they will have to battle all the way to the end and that they must remain in great shape to do so. 

As announced a few days ago by weather adviser Sylvain Mondon, the medium NNW’ly wind is reigning implacably over what is a much calmer ocean. Sailing on just a single hull, the central hull just kissing the water, Groupama 3 is really showing off her versatility under the leadership of a crew which doesn’t have a minute to lose. And though, over the past twenty four hours, Franck Cammas and his band have conceded 170 miles to Orange and are now positioned 100 miles behind her, the mindset remains, more than ever before, a conquering one.

“We haven’t tacked for a very long time and, from this evening, we’ll be making two or three changes of tack to gently make headway to the North. It’s at that point that we’ll lose the greatest distance in relation to Orange, but we’re left with no other alternative if we are to locate a system which is more favourable to our progress. The fact that things are very tight as regards the record time is highly motivating and we know we’ve got a real battle on our hands! The general atmosphere is as great as ever and that’s what makes this crew so good. The “Bar des Sports” is just one of the opportunities onboard, where everyone has a chance to get together. We’re all really driven to do better and finish this record with flying colours so we can be proud on our arrival off Ushant! Yesterday evening we had a great time at the Bar des Sports and were treated to two duck breasts that Loïc had stashed away with two tiny little bottles of red wine. It was a delicious, unforgettable moment!” enthused Jacques Caraës during the daily radio link-up with Groupama’s Jules Verne HQ. 

 

Snag-free
At the risk of sounding like a famous football coach, it’s clear that on both a tactical and technical level, Groupama 3′s crew are coming out of the orangey-red zone with a view to finding a more `chlorophyll freshness’:

“I was dozing in my bunk on stand-by watch and as it was time to wake up, so it’s a good moment to talk to you. That way I’ll be wide awake to go up on deck. The water is now 15° this morning, so it’s beginning to get up to a nice temperature! We’re making headway close on the wind with a 14 knot breeze on very comfortable seas. Life is completely different today and it’s done us a world of good. It’s affected everyone as we’ve all fallen into a very deep sleep. We were all in need of it as we were very fatigued after the sailing conditions in the Pacific. We’ve all recovered well in readiness for tackling the Atlantic, with a boat that’s in equally fine fettle, which augurs well for the next stage!” concludes Jacques. 

 

The perfect solution
Tonight, just to have a change from the routine which they’re slowly slipping into aboard, the succession of helmsmen will alter course to the left and then, a few hours later, to the right, thanks to the wind variations along the western edge of the zone of high pressure. As such the wind strength and direction, as well as the barometric pressure will be navigator Stan Honey’s principle points of reference in trying to limit the extra distance to travel as much as possible… 

 

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): 672 miles (deficit = 211 miles)
Day 21 (21th February 1400 UTC): 584 miles (deficit = 124 miles)
Day 22 (22nd February 1400 UTC): 607 miles (deficit = 137 miles)
Day 23 (23rd February 1400 UTC): 702 miles (lead = 60 miles)
Day 24 (24th February 1400 UTC): 638 miles (lead = 208 miles)
Day 25 (25th February 1400 UTC): 712 miles (lead = 371 miles)
Day 26 (26th February 1400 UTC): 687 miles (lead = 430 miles)
Day 27 (27th February 1400 UTC): 797 miles (lead = 560 miles)
Day 27 (27th February 1400 UTC): 560 miles (lead = 517 miles)
Day 29 (1st March 1400 UTC): 434 miles (lead = 268 miles)
Day 30 (2nd March 1400 UTC): 575 miles (lead = 184 miles)
Day 31 (3rd March 1400 UTC): 617 miles (lead = 291 miles)
Day 32 (4th March 1400 UTC): 492 miles (lead = 248 miles)
Day 33 (5th March 1400 UTC): 445 miles (lead = 150 miles)
Day 34 (6th March 1400 UTC): 461 miles (lead = 58 miles)
Day 35 (7th March 1400 UTC): 382 miles (deficit = 100 miles)

WSSRC record from equator to equator
Orange 2 (2005): 33d 16h 06′

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 On rounding Cape Horn at 1830 UTC this Thursday 4th March, Franck Cammas and his men have retained a lead of 175 miles over the reference time, which equates to 8 hours 55 minutes. However, the beginning of this final stage of the round the world will be complicated for the giant trimaran to negotiate, at least for the first few hours of this Atlantic ascent … 

The rather peculiar conditions, which have been reigning over the Pacific, have not enabled Groupama 3 to beat the WSSRC record for traversing the largest ocean in the world. For sure there was wind, but too much, to the extent that the crew was forced to make a big detour to the North to avoid the worst of the seas generated by a nasty low. However, it proved necessary for Franck Cammas and his men to negotiate a rather light transition zone prior to approaching the coast of Chile… In the end, the crew devoured nearly 5,000 miles of the Pacific Ocean (Southern Tasmania to Cape Horn) in 8 days 19 hours 07 minutes, which amounts to just 59 additional minutes in relation to the reference time set by Orange 2 in 2005 (8d 18h 08′).

 

 

However, there is still 7,000 miles to go before they reach the finish line off Ushant: Bruno Peyron and his crew took over eighteen days to climb up the Atlantic. And even though Groupama 3 is still a few miles ahead of the reference time right now, she is set to lose the majority of this advantage over the coming days. The headwinds reigning over the East coast of Patagonia will make a serious dent in the giant trimaran’s capital.

 

 

Back in 2005 the champion Jules Verne Trophy catamaran had a superb climb to the equator (8d 05h 36′), but she struggled to make Ushant once she got into the northern hemisphere (9d 11h 15′). As such Groupama 3 is still on track to improve on the round the world record: fifty days is still within grasp…

Groupama 3′s time between Tasmania and Cape Horn
8d 19h 7′, or 59′ more than the WSSRC record set by Orange 2 in 2005

Reference time between Ushant and Cape Horn
Groupama 3 (2010): 32d 04h 34′
Lead over Orange 2′s time (32d 13h 29′ in 2005): 8h 55′

 

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The sailing conditions have become tougher over the past few hours as a low catches up with Groupama 3. Indeed the current aim for the giant trimaran is to try to stay at the front of this system until it rounds Cape Horn… To pull this off she will have to maintain a high speed to benefit from what is expected to be a NW’ly breeze as far as the Falkland Islands. 

Still faster than Orange 2, the giant trimaran is having to cover more ground to reach Cape Horn and hence her lead continues to yo-yo today… When Groupama 3 switches onto a NE’ly course, she distances herself from the direct route, and when she gybes, as she did on Sunday evening, she makes gains. The upshot of this is that her lead over the reference time changes according to the manoeuvres, with dramatic fluctuations from one hour to the next. Ultimately though, Franck Cammas and his men still have a lead of nearly a day over Bruno Peyron and his crew…

“Right now we’re pretty much on a SE’ly course, but we’re going to gybe again at lunchtime tomorrow, and then again to get onto a direct course towards the Horn… We’ve had some choppy seas over the past few hours, but they’re gradually becoming more regular now” explained Loïc Le Mignon at the 1130 UTC radio link-up with Groupama’s Race HQ in Paris. 

 

On the look-out for ice
The crew aboard Groupama 3 have been eating a lot more over the past few days due to the persistent cold reigning over the Pacific Ocean. The consumption of calories is considerably larger the longer you’re at sea (one month on the water already) and the more the temperatures drop to close to zero degrees Celsius.

“As a member of both the technical crew and the sailing team, I consider that the trajectory is being well managed: we can make very fast headway without having big seas. We’re not cutting the corner but it’s still very agreeable. Right now it’s rather cold: the gloves are out and we’re keen to round Cape Horn to dry things out… We’re eating a lot more and we aren’t lacking in food as we have been during other attempts. We’ve run out of our special Lannilis bread already though…”

There is still some ice to watch out for too as the water temperature has dipped below 6°C. The ice isn’t far off, but the satellite images confirm that the actual icebergs are further South… The crew is nevertheless remaining very attentive both on the radar and on watch on deck. Not surprisingly fatigue is beginning to set in onboard. 

 

Taking a low punch
A `nasty’ low is tailing Groupama 3, which must maintain a high pace to stay ahead of the system and benefit from the resulting downwind breeze. As such Franck Cammas and his men are going to be plagued by this depression until they make good their escape from the Southern Ocean.

“This pattern is rather reminiscent of when we rounded Cape Leeuwin: we have to stay ahead of a depression until the Horn, or beyond! However, this disturbed system is faster than us… We’re reckoning on three days to reach the cape! We’re into a good rhythm onboard as we’ve known each other a long time, though there is the usual friction too. Everyone’s taking care of each other. It’s a very good crew which is competent, competitive and kind. We really want this third attempt to be successful!” 

 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): 672 miles (deficit = 211 miles)
Day 21 (21th February 1400 UTC): 584 miles (deficit = 124 miles)
Day 22 (22nd February 1400 UTC): 607 miles (deficit = 137 miles)
Day 23 (23rd February 1400 UTC): 702 miles (lead = 60 miles)
Day 24 (24th February 1400 UTC): 638 miles (lead = 208 miles)
Day 25 (25th February 1400 UTC): 712 miles (lead = 371 miles)
Day 26 (26th February 1400 UTC): 687 miles (lead = 430 miles)
Day 27 (27th February 1400 UTC): 797 miles (lead = 560 miles)
Day 27 (27th February 1400 UTC): 560 miles (lead = 517 miles)

WSSRC record for the Pacific Ocean crossing (from the South of Tasmania to Cape Horn)
Orange 2 (2005): 8d 18h 08′
  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.

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Taking just 8 days 17 hours and 39 minutes to traverse the Indian Ocean, the maxi trimaran Groupama 3 skippered by Franck Cammas has snatched the record held by Orange 2 since 2005. 

It was at 2322 UTC on Tuesday 23rd February that Groupama 3 crossed the longitude of Tasmania, to the South of Australia, which marks the exit from the Indian Ocean and the entry to the Pacific Ocean.

Having rounded Cape Agulhas off South Africa 8 days and 17 hours beforehand, Franck Cammas and his nine crew participating in the Jules Verne Trophy have taken 17 hours and 25 minutes less than the crew of Bruno Peyron some five years ago.

With the Indian Ocean behind them, Groupama 3 is now attacking the largest ocean in the world, the Pacific; the exit from which is marked by the much renowned Cape Horn.

Departure from Ushant: on 31st January at 1355 UTC
Passage around the Agulhas Cape: on 15th February at 0543 UTC
Passage of Tasmania: on 23rd February at 2322 UTC

Race time from the start to Tasmania: 23 days 9 hours and 27 minutes
Indian Ocean crossing time: 8 days 17 hours and 39 minutes, that is 17 hours and 25 minutes faster than Orange.

This new record for the passage across the Indian Ocean is awaiting approval by the WSSRC, the international body responsible for sailing records.

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Still maintaining the high speeds that have coloured the past five days, Franck Cammas and his nine crew should make their entry into the Pacific Ocean tonight. In so doing Groupama 3 is set to pocket the record for the passage from Cape Agulhas to Tasmania in a time of under nine days. Furthermore, with the favourable weather conditions set to last, the coming days are likely to be just as fast. 

Groupama 3 is on the point of collecting her first trophy of this Jules Verne! Indeed this round the world sprint has also provided the crew with the opportunity to beat three other records recognised by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council), the official body in charge of validating the best times under sail. It is also hoped that the prize haul will include the record passage across the Indian Ocean (Orange 2: 9d 11h 04′), that of the passage across the Pacific Ocean (Orange 2: 8d 18h 08′) and that from the equator back to the equator (Orange 2: 33d 16h 06′).

“We’re monitoring our progress in relation to Orange 2 and even though she’s not a direct opponent, we’re looking at her virtual wake. We knew that under Australia we were going to make up our deficit as Bruno Peyron and his crew had to put in several gybes with some slower phases. However, they traversed the Pacific very quickly… It will be difficult to maintain the same average speed as far as Cape Horn. If we have a bit of a lead at that stage that wouldn’t be bad: theoretically the climb up the Atlantic should enable us to claw back the time!” said Fred Le Peutrec at the 1130 UTC radio link-up with Groupama’s Race HQ in Paris.

At the end of 23 days at sea then, Groupama 3 has been tracking ahead of the reference time for some ten days and lamenting a deficit for thirteen days… Right now Franck Cammas’ aim is to commit to the Pacific with a lead of several hours over the record pace. 

 

Shift and gybe
With the NW’ly breeze accompanying them for the past five days, the sea state remains sufficiently well organised to enable the crew of Groupama 3 to make good speed effortlessly and free from stress. The situation is set to change a little after Tasmania once the breeze backs round to the W or WSW on Wednesday. The giant trimaran will then have to gybe to avoid New Zealand. However, as far as the average speed is concerned, there shouldn’t be any signs of a drop in pace yet…

“Happiness is a funny thing! Not only are we getting used to these average speeds in excess of thirty knots, our enthusiasm is waning… We’ve noticed on board that when you’re sailing at 28 knots, it feels like you’ve come to a standstill! At times you have to get it into your head that you’re sailing at 33-35 knots, or even forty… We’ve got our bearings now since we’ve been sailing on the same tack for the past five days: we’re organising ourselves to eat, sleep and keep up the maintenance on the boat. We’re going to have one manoeuvre to perform during the course of tomorrow, Wednesday. A gybe will be required to reposition ourselves given that the low off New Zealand has filled in. At that point we’ll hook onto a fluctuating W’ly breeze.”

However, for the next 24 hours, the wind will oscillate between the W and NW whilst remaining fairly strong: 28 to 32 knots, gusting to 35-38 knots. The waves are also building, but for now they’re still on the aft quarter so they’ll be driving Groupama 3 forward over these last few miles across the Indian Ocean and the first few miles across the Pacific.

“It’s still very grey… as has been the case for the past five days! It feels like we’ve been under the same cloud. It’s still wet with little visibility, but the temperatures are continuing to be mild. It’s rather different to when I did The Race in 2001: it was very cold then, but we were treated to a fantastic aurora australis.” 

 

Avoiding the ice
The entry into the Pacific Ocean with the passage of Tasmania is expected to take place late this evening (UTC/ early hours of the morning in Tasmania). As such Groupama 3 should complete her journey across the Indian Ocean in under nine days and hence claim the WSSRC record between Cape Agulhas (South Africa) and the southern tip of Tasmania. Right now it is likely she will reduce the previous record held by Bruno Peyron and his crew since 2005 (9d 11h 04′) by a dozen hours.

“With the final known zone of icebergs having been left a few tens of miles to starboard, Groupama 3 has been able to bear away a little this Tuesday and make full benefit of the fairly strong NW’ly wind to put a little big of southing into her course. Indeed, with the latitude at which Franck Cammas and his crew have been sailing, Groupama 3 was still relatively close to Australia: this trajectory has been guided by both the wind from the previous days and by the presence of a large quantity of icebergs to the South of 47 degrees. This southward shift is necessary since you have to follow a course of at least 47°30 S to avoid New Zealand! Therefore we can expect to see Groupama 3 making a very high VMG (velocity made good) bordering on 28/30 knots and with that their lead should continue to increase between Tuesday and Wednesday” explains Sylvain Mondon from Météo France. 

 

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): 672 miles (deficit = 211 miles)
Day 21 (21th February 1400 UTC): 584 miles (deficit = 124 miles)
Day 22 (22nd February 1400 UTC): 607 miles (deficit = 137 miles)
Day 23 (23rd February 1400 UTC): 702 miles (lead = 60 miles)

WSSRC record for traversing the Indian Ocean (from Cape Agulhas to Southern Tasmania)
- Orange 2 (2005): 9d 11h 04′

 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

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Groupama 3 is almost back inside the Jules Verne Trophy reference time as she approaches the longitude of Cape Leeuwin, just seven days after passing Cape Agulhas! The final stage of the Indian Ocean seems all set to see the giant trimaran get back in the saddle… 

124 miles separate the two boats on this 21st day at sea. Since the Crozet Islands the situation has reversed and Groupama 3 has constantly proven to be faster (at times ten knots quicker) than Orange 2 in 2005… With a W to NW’ly wind of around twenty knots, Franck Cammas and his men are sailing safely, without putting too much pressure on the machine and without demanding excessive amounts of effort from the crew. The past 24 hours have been more active in terms of manoeuvres however.

“Everything’s going very smoothly: we’re being dealt weather conditions which aren’t particularly difficult for an Indian Ocean. We’re still chasing after Orange 2 but we’ve greatly reduced our deficit. On Saturday there was even some sunshine and we had a magical night with an extraordinarily starry sky. It’s my first adventure offshore and you simply can’t tire of it: time just flies by! I’m excited at the idea of passing Cape Leeuwin on Monday morning and after that it will be the Pacific and the Horn: it’s fantastic! Added to that I’m on watch with Thomas Coville and Steve Ravussin and we get on very well” said Bruno Jeanjean at the 1130 UTC radio link-up with Groupama’s Race HQ in Paris. 

 

Leeuwin ahoy
Under large gennaker, staysail and full mainsail, Groupama 3 is still making headway at an average of nearly thirty knots and tonight’s menu promises more of the same. As such Franck Cammas and his nine crew should cross the longitude of Cape Leeuwin late tonight or in the early hours with a deficit of less than five hours in relation to the reference time. Above all they are set to achieve the best time over this section of the course between Cape Agulhas and the SW tip of Australia…

“We’re really not feeling fatigued because we’ve never had to draw on our reserves! Of course above thirty-five knots of speed, you get shaken about quite a lot and you have to hang on whilst you’re in your bunk, but we’re sleeping well. Thomas told me that this particular crossing of the Indian has gone fairly smoothly in relation to what he’s experienced here in the past… We’re still sailing on relatively well organised seas and for the time being, we’ve only had one 40 knot gust. Furthermore, it’s not cold and the sea temperature is still 10°C. Today we’ve had a good day of manoeuvring, switching between the large and small gennaker, with two gybes: that livens things up on deck!”

The crew has also had the time to perform several check-ups and all’s well aside from the natural wear on the sheets. The `sailing instructions’ are still the same: go fast effortlessly! And from this perspective, Groupama 3 is right on track to complete her passage across the Indian Ocean. 

 

 

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): 672 miles (deficit = 211 miles)
Day 21 (21th February 1400 UTC): 584 miles (deficit = 124 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′

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 Though Groupama 3 has paid a heavy price at the entry to the Southern Ocean, she should soon get paid dividends from her investment in the Indian front… The very straight trajectory announced as far as the longitude of Tasmania is particularly favourable, not solely for making up her deficit on the reference time, but above all amassing a fair bit of credit at the beginning of the Pacific. 

Just a few weeks from the tax declaration, Franck Cammas and his men have really been hit hard by the wind crisis since passing South Africa! Fortunately the VAT only amounted to 2.5% in the end, which is the percentage of Groupama 3′s deficit in relation to Orange 2′s reference time established in 2005… In total then the current balance stands at around 440 miles in the red on this eighteenth day at sea. This Thursday lunchtime the giant trimaran, positioned to the South of the island of Crozet, had finally tracked down a twenty-five knot NW’ly wind, which she had been after for the past three days. With this new system the average speeds have really been given a boost at nearly thirty knots!

 

“We’re happy to have finally tracked down the wind we were expecting so it’s pedal to the metal now! We’ve been making an average of thirty knots since this morning, and though conditions aren’t quite stable yet, the speeds are becoming reasonable again… The past few days have been frustrating with this front which could easily have set us free: on three occasions we attempted to traverse it but it didn’t work until the fourth attempt. Finally the front came to a halt but we had to bide our time… Right now it’s not that cold as we’re only at 42° South, though there’s quite a bit of rain beneath the front. It’s a fairly good sign because it’s synonymous with us having escaped this latest obstacle” said Franck Cammas at the 1130 UTC radio link-up with Groupama’s Race HQ in Paris, in the company of French news presenter Patrick Poivre d’Arvor. 

 

A `contrary’ Indian
Despite a rather uncooperative Atlantic, despite a `contrary’ Indian at the start of this crossing, despite a fairly N’ly trajectory which is extending the course in relation to the optimum route (around 55° South, but in the middle of the ice…), Groupama 3 has never racked up as much as a day’s deficit during this third attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy. Furthermore, on starting out on this eighteenth day at sea and hence the second third of this round the world course, Franck Cammas and his nine crew aren’t having to stand again for a second ballot, quite the contrary in fact! Indeed, the next stage of this `contorted’ Indian Ocean promises to be rather clearer: a long straight line towards the tip of Tasmania without many manoeuvres in prospect, save for trimming the sails according to the strength of the NW’ly wind and with a great deal of care at the helm and on the sheets…

“We’re going to remain ahead of the front in around twenty knots of NW’ly wind (with some brief spells of thirty-five knots and over) throughout nearly the entire crossing of the Indian Ocean. We’ll be able to follow what is almost the perfect trajectory with seas which aren’t too hard to negotiate. As such we’ll be making an average speed of over thirty knots!”

Sylvain Mondon from Météo France explained that Franck Cammas and his men weren’t to put their steed under too much pressure as it would be pointless getting to New Zealand too early: a depression moving across from Australia is currently forming a barrier at the entrance to the Pacific. With less than 16,000 miles to go before reaching Ushant, that is two thirds of the round the world to cover, Groupama 3 still has every chance of making it back in well under fifty days at sea… However, this is also the toughest section for the crew as they will be very exposed to the outside elements aboard their trimaran.

“It’s beginning to get very wet: it’s important to stow your things away securely and adopt a very methodical attitude. There isn’t a great deal of visibility and we can’t see a single bird or marine mammal on the horizon! Each of us has our own sleeping bag, but we share the three bunks up forward according to the watches. It’s not easy to keep your clothes dry as far as Cape Horn…” 

 

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)

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′

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