Only one winner in Transatlantic Battle of the Trimarans

by Cammas-Groupama 3 media on 3 Aug 2009
Congratulations from Franck Cammas Groupama 3 to Pascal Bidégorry Banque Populaire V, the new Transatlantic record holder.

Finishing twelve minutes after the new Transatlantic record holder, Franck Cammas congratulated Pascal Bidégorry and his crew, as well as analysing this express crossing of 3h 18h 12' 56' at an average of 31.92 knots...

Groupama 3 crossed the finish line in her Transatlantic record attempt on Sunday 2nd August at 1625' 12': the trimaran driven by Franck Cammas and his nine crew took 3 days 18 hours 12 minutes 56 seconds to cover the 2,880 miles which separate the Ambrose Light (New York) from Lizard Point (Cornwall, UK).

An extremely close finish as they made Lizard Point...

'We're happy to have crossed the line and it was nice to see Banque Populaire V over the last few hours of the course: it motivated both crews! We managed to really get Groupama 3 to cream along, which enabled us to make up a bit of ground on them... We set off virtually together and we crossed the finish with just a few minutes separation, after a little over three days at sea!' said Cammas.

How do you explain the comeback: is Groupama 3 more at ease in these less windy conditions or was it that the wind was more favourable to you?

'It's hard to say, a bit of both. We came back on them with the wind but we were just a few miles from each other so the difference in breeze was minimal... The wind was too shifty to know who was going better. One thing for sure is that we're more at ease in relation to them in less than twenty knots than in twenty five knots of breeze!

Do you have a message to convey to Pascal Bidégorry and his crew?

'Bravo! It's pretty impressive to monitor such a record when you're part of it too... They reached some incredible speeds and to have kept up that pace for 24 hours, with 907 miles, it's really a great step that's been made. I have lots of friends aboard and I think they're happy! There had to be a winner: it's them. I just hope they'll let us have the next record...'

What lessons have you learnt from this crossing? What things will the Groupama team be working on?

'This crossing was the final home straight before the Jules Verne Trophy. It was a successful test! Groupama 3 bettered her performance two years ago on a few little levels. We've made gains in pure performance, but it's not a very different boat. The crew is superb: it worked perfectly, it drove the trimaran flat out all the way with some very fine manoeuvres at all times. There's an excellent mindset aboard and we're all happy to head off together this winter.'

Is the crew tired or were you able to keep up a rhythm as you do for the Jules Verne Trophy?

'We organised ourselves so that we had the same pace as on a circumnavigation of the globe: nobody is tired and everyone has slept well, especially Steve... We could go on for weeks like that... 90% of the crew from this crossing will be at the start of the Jules Verne Trophy.'

In relation to Banque Populaire V, what are Groupama 3's strong points and weak points?

'We know there are conditions where they go faster, particularly close-hauled. We have a different philosophy with a shorter, lighter boat. Downwind we should go better... In a round the world, a lot can happen... In this crossing, they went faster 70% of the time: we're going to have to be more cunning in the Jules Verne Trophy where there is more weather strategy than in the North Atlantic attempt.'

It was your first collaboration with the navigator Stan Honey...

'We got to know each other on this crossing. For the record though, it's the start which is the most important, because after that there isn't that much strategy, just slight adjustments of trajectory according to the wind and the sail configuration. We're on the same wavelength and the exchanges with Sylvain Mondon onshore were always very positive.'

Is the boat in good condition?

'We're very satisfied. Afterwards, there are always details that can be improved on, notably with the foil casing. However, the foil demonstrated that it was reliable in relation to a round the world attempt: we were able to lower it right the way down throughout the crossing and trust in it.'

Who went the fastest?

'The best time went to Steve Ravussin's watch team, but I think it was Bernard Stamm who climbed to 44.7 knots. Swiss speed...'

Departure: Exceptional conditions...
Wednesday 29th July 2009 at 20h 12m 16s UT
Position: 40° 26.9 North - 73° 47.9 West
Distance to cover: 2,880 miles

Groupama 3 set off midway through the afternoon (local time) in a SW'ly air flow of twenty knots, becoming stronger with the passage of a line of squalls. The aim is to catch up with a cold front off Newfoundland, which has formed over Canada and which is set to traverse the Atlantic at nearly 35 knots. Franck Cammas and his nine crew set off 2hrs35 before Pascal Bidégorry and his men...

Summary:

Day 1: Duel on the Atlantic
Thursday 30th July 2009 at 2205 UT
Position: 44° 04.6 North - 56° 43.7 West
Distance remaining: 2,094 miles
Distance covered in 24 hrs: 727 miles
Average speed over 24hrs: 30.3 knots
Separation in relation to the reference time: deficit of 71.4 miles

The start of the course isn't as fast as it was two years earlier, with a slight, temporary drop in the wind off Sable Island, which causes Groupama 3 to lose a few miles. Still accompanied by a SW'ly air flow of over twenty knots, Franck Cammas and his men are picking their way through the fog, though the seas are flat which favours steady speeds. Her rival is slightly faster in these weather conditions, clawing back around forty miles since the departure from New York.

Day 2: The 800 mile barrier!
Friday 31st July 2009 at 2100 UT
Position: 47° 34 North - 38° 49.4 West
Distance remaining: 1,326 miles
Distance covered in 24 hrs: 801.8 miles
Average speed over 24 hrs: 33.4 knots
Separation in relation to the reference time: lead of 118.9 miles

Once round the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Groupama 3 can lengthen her stride in a wind which has climbed to nearly thirty knots: Franck Cammas and his men have entered the Atlantic with an extremely favourable attacking angle in relation to the wind (130°). Overnight they shatter the legendary 800 mile standard for a day's sailing and the acceleration is such that the average speeds just keep on growing: the trimaran is now ahead of the 2007 reference time. The separation from her rival remains stable at around thirty miles in favour of Pascal Bidégorry and his crew.

Day 3: 857.5 miles in 24 hours...
Saturday 1st August 2009 at 2000 UT
Position: 50° 23.4 North - 19° 10.7 West
Distance remaining: 537 miles
Distance covered in 24 hrs: 825.8 miles
Average speed over 24hrs: 34.4 knots
Separation in relation to the reference time: lead of 217.6 miles

There is just a fifth of the course to go and Groupama 3 is well ahead of the record time, which she's held since July 2007. The weather conditions and above all the sea state are not very built-up, enabling the speed records to explode with every passing hour. Ultimately the figures reach an average of 35.7 knots over 24 hrs. Under staysail and two reefs, Franck Cammas' crew are driving the trimaran at 100% of her potential, but her rival is longer by nine metres and more powerful, and clearly has a particular penchant for these conditions: she culminates in 907 miles in 24hrs, an outright record! As a result, Pascal Bidégorry and his crew make up the deficit from their later start and even get ahead of Groupama 3 in elapsed time...

Day 4: Arrivals in contact
Sunday 2nd August 2009 at 1425' UT
Position: 49° 54.8 North - 5° 11 West
Distance remaining: 0 miles
Distance covered in 24 hrs: 720 miles
Average speed over 24 hrs: 30 knots
Separation in relation to the reference time: lead of 258 miles

The mission