Trofeo Jules Verne, recuperando terreno

Trofeo Jules Verne – Oceano Indiano – Lasciata Città del Capo al traverso nel corso del weekend, Groupama 3 è ormai entrato nel pieno dell’Oceano Indiano. Dopo due giorni resi particolarmente difficili a causa dell’instabilità barometrica, e costati parecchie miglia rispetto al record di Orange II, la situazione meteo pare volgere al meglio per l’equipaggio di Franck Cammas. Nel corso delle ultime ore, infatti, il maxi trimarano impegnato nel tentativo di migliorare il record sul giro del mondo senza scalo, è tornato a recuperare terreno e si trova ora 338 miglia indietro rispetto alla posizione fatta registrare dal team di Bruno Peyron dopo analogo tempo trascorso in mare.

Groupama 3 sta seguendo una rotta molto più settentrionale rispetto a quella seguita dal detentore, che a suo tempo passò rasente le Isole Kerguelen.

“Il vento è calato un pò, ma ci aspettiamo un nuovo rinforzo per la notte, quando il vento dovrebbe girare con decisione verso nord-ovest. La barca non è mai stata sollecitata eccessivamente e l’equipaggio conosce questa zona molto bene. Al momento navighiamo con moderata brezza da sud. Abbiamo dovuto strambare per non allontanarci troppo dal fronte che stiamo cercando di agganciare, un fronte che speriamo ci spinga veloci verso Cape Leewuin” ha spiegato Franck Cammas nel corso di un collegamento radio effettuato alle 11.30 UTC di oggi.

Secondo il meteorologo del team, il previsto giro del vento verso nord-ovest dovrebbe garantire a Groupma 3 un rapido superamento dell’Oceano Indiano. Per recuperare lo svantaggio accumulato nei confronti del primato di Orange II i nove uomini di equipaggio del maxi catamarano francese dovranno tenere una media di circa 32 nodi.

Groupama 3, terzo tentativo giro del mondo senza scalo
Miglia rimanenti, 16.281 mn
Differenza sul tempo di riferimento, 348 mn behind

Per seguire Groupama 3 sul traking clicca qui.

[flashvideo filename=video/oceano/Groupama_160210.flv /]
Video courtesy Groupama Voile.

JULES VERNE TROPHY, STEMMING THE HAEMORRHAGE OF MILES
[Groupama Press Release] 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 Racing, the recent winner of the 33rd America’s Cup and loyal crew to Franck on Groupama 2 and Groupama 40.

A favourable system
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, third attempt on Jules Verne Trophy
Distance to cover, 16.281 mn
Advantage on reference time, 348 mn behind

To follow Groupama 3 on traking click here.

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