Tour de France à la Voile - Tackling more pleasant sailing conditions

by Groupama Sailing Team on 19 Jul 2014 After around 10 days of racing in the English Channel, those competing in the 37th Tour de France à la Voile are now tackling more pleasant sailing conditions between Roses in Spain and Nice in France. Second in the overall ranking with a 19-point deficit in relation to the leader, Courrier Dunkerque, Franck Cammas and his men have benefited from their move to the South to shift things up a gear, securing bullets in the first two races and making up 25% of the points separating them from the front runner.

Cammas is back. This Friday morning, on the pontoons of the port of Roses, the name of Groupama's trusty skipper was on everyone's lips. Racers, organisers and journalists awaited the reigning champion at what could well be a turning point in the event, everyone keen to know if his return to the helm of Groupama 34 would be enough to counter the excellent start to the Tour by Daniel Souben and his crew.

Out on the water, the answer wasn't long in coming. In a breeze of around twenty knots, messy seas and glorious sunshine, the Race Committee launched two races.

Pulling off an excellent start at the front of the pack, Groupama 34 quickly took control of proceedings on the left-hand side of the race zone, whilst Courrier Dunkerque had to shake off a more laborious start by tacking off to the right. Unfortunately for them, it was the left-hand side, which proved favourable, enabling Groupama to power around the first course mark in first place, shadowed by Oman, whilst the overall leader was left skulking in fifth.

Benefiting from a series of risky manoeuvres by TPM and Normandie, Courrier Dunkerque finished third, only dropping two points to the day's first victor, Groupama 34.

At that point it was time to find out how the Dunkirk crew would respond and whether Groupama could continue on a roll in the second race, the wind having dropped very slightly.

Barely out of their starting blocks, the inspired skipper of Groupama asserted himself, fully powered up on the line, in the right place, without taking any particular risks. Meantime Dunkerque got off to another shaky start. Third at the first windward mark behind Bretagne Crédit Mutuel and Ville de Genève, both of whom had nicely anticipated the 10° rotation of the wind to the right, Groupama 34 really blazed a trail down the run to snatch back control and she held onto the top spot right the way to the finish, Dunkerque finishing fourth.

Having made up five points in one day, Groupama 34 is holding on firmly to her road book, all too aware that the lowly number of points up for grabs between here and Nice leaves her with no room for error.

Questioned about this great day of racing, Groupama 34's tactician, Tanguy Cariou, couldn't conceal his satisfaction: 'We sailed well and simply. Franck's return has generated a lot more discussion and communication between us, both in terms of performance and tactics. As a result everything aboard the boat is running more smoothly'.

Relaxed and smiling, this trusty member of the crew, who has been sailing alongside Franck for over ten years, summed up his thoughts on the matter: 'Consistency will be one of the key elements in outright victory. Courrier Dunkerque missed out today despite being in conditions it favours. It's up to us to snap up any opportunities that come our way'.

Next up is the first offshore leg of the Mediterranean tomorrow, between Roses and Gruissan, which will be awarded a coefficient two. Scheduled to set sail at dawn in light airs that are due to pick up to 20 knots over the course of the day, the 60-mile leg (110 kilometres) promises to be full-on for the two front runners.

Provisional overall ranking after 18 races
1. Courrier Dunkerque 3 with 619 points
2. Groupama 34 with 605 points
3. Team Omansail with 583 points
4. Bretagne Crédit Mutuel with 578 points
5. Ville de Genève with 548 points
6. Normandy Acerel with 524 points
7. Toulon Provence Méditerranée - COYCH with 511 points
8. Nantes Saint Nazaire with 490 points
9. BE.Brussels Bienne Voile with 453 points