[singlepic id=5745 w=300 h=204 float=left]Volvo Ocean Race – Lorient – Nel corso di una conferenza stampa svolta presso la base di Lorient, Franck Cammas e il management di Groupama hanno spiegato le ragioni che hanno spinto il colosso francese delle assicurazioni a legare il proprio nome a una doppia sfida alla Volvo Ocean Race: “Quando ci siamo impegnati nella vela con Franck Cammas era il 1998 – ha spiegato Frederique Granado, responsabile degli affari esterni di Groupama – Franck era giovanissimo e aveva appena iniziato a studiare il mondo dei multiscafi. Dodici anni dopo si fregia della vittoria in quasi tutte le transoceaniche e vanta almeno sei record, incluso il leggendario Troeo Jules Verne. Per supportare l’attività concernente due campagne di Volvo Ocean Race, quindi formalmente sino al 2015, abbiamo coinvolto il dipartimento internazionale, che produce circa il trenta per cento del suo fatturato oltreoceanoe impiega almeno undicimila dipendenti oltre i confini francesi”.
“Quello che dobbiamo fare ora – ha spiegato Franck Cammas – è prendere la mano al monoscafo e per farlo servono dedizione e umilità. Dal 1993 ad oggi non c’è stato un solo team framcese coinvolto nella manifestazone. Contro i kiwi, gli spagnoli e gli irlandesi somo certo che saà dura, ma avremo una barca molto competitiva. Grazie a Groupma siamo i primi che si possono radunare con largo anticipo. Questo ci da anche modo di scegliere i veterani ancora disponibili e i giovani più brillanti. Davvero un bel modo di iniziare a fare sul serio”.
Del resto un pò di fretta è d’obbligo: il team ha a disposizione già da alcune settimane Ericsson 4, lo scafo dominatore della passata Volvo Ocaen Race modificato e varato poche ore dopo il passaggoo di Capo Horn da parte di Groupama 3. Lo scafo verrà usato per selezionare il nuovo equipaggio e verrà messo in disarmo dopo la consegna di Groupma 70. A disegnare la barca è stato chiamato Juan Kouyoumdjian, padre dei VOR 70 più veloci i sempre: Ericsson 4 e ABN Amro Two.
Costruire la nuova barca richiederà circa dieci messi: il varo è infatti fissato sin da oggi per il 15 marzo del 2011. Nel frattempo Cammas prenderà parte in solitario alla Route du Rhum e all’Extreme 40 Sailing Series in equipaggio a bordo di Groupama 40.
VOLVO OCEAN RACE, GROUPAMA PRESENTS ITS CHALLENGE
[Groupama Voile Press Release] This Thursday in Eric Tabarly’s Cité de la Voile and then its base in Lorient, vessel owner Groupama and its team, revealed the reasons behind their commitment to the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, the crewed round the world race with stopovers. It proved to be an excellent opportunity for the European insurance and banking group to display its international ambition and for Franck Cammas and his team to vie with the top Anglo-Saxon crews.
“When we committed ourselves to supporting Franck Cammas back in 1998, he was a young sports entrepreneur, who was just discovering the multihull scene. Twelve years on, he has won virtually all the crewed races and racked up no less than six records, including the legendary Jules Verne Trophy on 20th March 2010. By confirming our commitment to the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, namely until 2015, we are supporting the Group’s international development, which makes 30% of its turnover overseas and employs over 11,000 employees outside France. Groupama is today identified as the leading vessel owner in French sailing. With the Volvo Ocean Race, this presence will further develop overseas” analyses Frédérique Granado, Groupama’s director of external communications.
To achieve this, Groupama can count on the complete involvement of its team led by Franck Cammas. Today this team is made up of 45 people and within the workforce it is fairly commonplace to hear English spoken or perhaps French with a slightly exotic accent: “The challenge we’ve committed ourselves to is a sizeable one. Since 1993 and Eric Tabarly, not a single French team has participated in the Volvo Ocean Race. Up against the top crews from New Zealand, America, Spain and Ireland, it’s going to be an intense battle. We’re just rediscovering the monohull and we still have a lot to learn. However, we’re going about it with as much enthusiasm, seriousness and humility as possible. Thanks to Groupama’s commitment, we were the first to put our team together. Making up my entourage are Volvo specialists like Damian Foxall, Ben Wright, Luc Gellusseau, Hervé Le Quilliec as well as Killian Bush, who are joining together with various long-term stalwarts of the Groupama Team like Stéphane Guilbaud, Pierre Tissier, Loïc Dorez, Yann Riou and Olivier Mainguy” explains Franck Cammas.
With the purchase of Ericsson 4, winner of the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, Groupama Team can boast an excellent platform for training and analysis. Rechristened Groupama 70, the Koujoumdjian design is performing an increasing number of sail trials offshore of Lorient in Brittany, where the Team is based.
When the team aren’t out sailing, the various members of the Team are participating in the design of the future boat, it too due to be designed by the Franco-Argentine architect: “Unfortunately we didn’t have the time to involve the excellent French architects in the work, as they are also only just discovering the restrictions of the class measurement linked to these 70 foot (21.5 metres long) boats. As such we opted for Juan Koujoumdjian, who is based in Valencia, Spain. However, it’s actually in nearby Vannes, at the Multiplast yard, that Groupama 4 will be built. This will represent 40,000 man hours and we know the team well because we built the maxi trimaran Groupama 3 with them” adds Franck.
With work having started in the last few days, the construction will take 10 months till her scheduled launch on 15th March 2011. In the meantime, the Groupama skipper will have also taken part in the Route du Rhum La Banque Postale aboard a Groupama 3 adapted to solo sailing, as well as the Extreme Sailing Series Europe aboard the one design catamaran Groupama 40.
Suffice to say that the schedule for the Groupama skipper is a busy one. However, supported by a committed, long-lasting ship owner and an experienced Team, Franck Cammas has what it takes to succeed in his ambitions
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