Spi Ouest France - Gunning for the top spot

by Groupama Sailing Team on 17 Apr 2014 Dominating last season in M34, Groupama Sailing Team won all the races, except one: The Spi Ouest France. Beaten by a very high performance Courrier Dunkerque, from there on in Franck Cammas' crew were on an upward spiral.

The first race of the 2014 season in this one-design series, Spi Ouest promises to be hotly contested once again with a few of the class' rules having evolved. In the absence of the Groupama skipper, who is continuing his Olympic preparation in the Nacra 17, tomorrow it'll be down to Fabien Henry to do better than last year.

What's good about competition is that you never get bored: the winners want to remain on the top spot and the defeated teams don't want to remain in that position. At this particular game, we'll have to wait and see who has the most to lose between Groupama and Courrier Dunkerque?

Is it Daniel Souben's team, winner here last year before being dominated throughout the season, or that of Franck, second before outperforming any other team with a level of performance that had never before been achieved, successively securing wins in the Grand Prix Guyader, the Grand Prix de l'Ecole Navale, Normandy Sailing Week and finally the Tour de France à la Voile?

Whatever happens these two teams have chosen to set off from the same basis as last year with two weeks of training together under the leadership of the Ecole Nationale de Voile (French Sailing School) in Quiberon: 'We've exchanged a lot of ideas and shared a wealth of experience with Courrier Dunkerque. I think each of us got something out of it. In any case, they are incredibly motivated and want revenge,' admits Fabien Henry, skipper of Groupama 34 and project manager in the absence of Franck. 'I'm proud that Franck has placed his trust in me. It's a great responsibility, particularly when the request comes from him. However, it's a role I'm very familiar with after having the same post for eight years for the TPM project' adds the sailor from southern France, who has put together a fairly similar crew to that of last year: 'The class measurement has evolved. There are now just seven of us aboard and aside from the helmsman, Tugdual Becquemie, we have the same team':

In the role of tactician, we have Tanguy Cariou once again: 'He's a very fine tactician and incredibly competent. He heads the group on the water and has a really good feel for the wind'.

Navigating and in charge of the mainsail Julien Villio is the man in charge: 'Julien has put a lot of work into analysing performance. He has had to too because we have fewer sails aboard and there is one fewer crew member aboard too. As such he's had to develop the way we sail'.

In charge of the headsail trimming is Matthieu di Russo: 'He's young and never balks at responsibility. During the debriefing he's very involved and constantly asking questions. He's an incredible asset to the team'.

Spinnaker trimmer, Devan Le Bihan, is 'one of the pillars of the group and also sails in the Extreme 40 circuit. In physical and human terms, he's the best. He has a really good feel for the boat's trim and he has a good handle on the tactical observation of the race zone'.

Bowman Christophe André is also back in the position he held in 2013:'He's another of our pillars: in charge of sports preparation on shore and manoeuvres on the water, Christophe is always highly positive. He gives the group great dynamic'.

Alongside him on Thursday's offshore race, Malo Bessec will quickly rediscover his reflex actions with a view to the Tour de France: 'In the offshore races, Tanguy Cariou will step off the boat as the tactician's role is less decisive than that of the navigator. As such, Malo will take up the role of bowman. He's lighter, very sharp and quick'.

A professional sailor and a multiple winner of the Tour de France à la Voile, Fabien Henry is a happy skipper: 'It's an interesting role as it enables me to tackle all the different facets of the job. Inevitably that includes the sporting angle, but also the management of the team and relations with Franck and Tanguy, which are always very enriching'.

It now remains for the work carried out over the winter to be put into practice and the team has two main objectives: to finish ahead of Courrier Dunkerque, of course, but also the other competitors, whose potential we don't yet know. And all that is what gives an event like the Spi Ouest France its appeal, with the forecast set to be considerably less cold and windy than last year.

Groupama 34's crew:
1. Fabien Henry: skipper and pitman
2. Tanguy Cariou: tactician (except offshore race)
3. Tugdual Becquemie: helmsman
4. Julien Villion: mainsail trimmer and navigator
5. Matthieu di Russo: headsail trimmer
6. Devan Le Bihan: spinnaker trimmer
7. Christophe André: bowman
8. Malo Bessec: bowman offshore race

Groupama 34's rivals:
1. Courrier Dunkerque : Daniel Souben
2. Bretagne Crédit Mutuel : Nicolas Troussel
3. Oman Sail : Sydney Gavignet
4. Ville de Genève : Benoît Groux
5. TPM COYCH : Florian Simonnot
6. Baya : E. de Turckheim
7. Vox Sea : A. Roig
8. Normandie : B. Choquenet
9. Nantes Saint Nazaire : J. Gellée

The race programme
Thursday at 12 noon: Start of the offshore race
Friday: course from 1100 hrs
Saturday: course from 1030 hrs
Sunday: course from 1100 hrs
Monday: course from 0930 Groupama website