Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Volvo Ocean Race team Groupama head for Leg 4 finish

by Franck Cammas on 10 Mar 2012
Groupama Sailing Team during leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team /Volvo Ocean Race http://www.cammas-groupama.com/
Volvo Ocean Race team Groupama 4 continue to hold a convincing lead with second placed Camper 110.6 miles astern of the leg four leader at the 1300 UTC report.

Groupama was the first to pass Cape Reinga, which marks the northern tip of New Zealand, early this Friday afternoon. Franck Cammas and his men have just 180 miles to go to make the finish in Auckland. Over a hundred miles behind the French boat, there is a fierce battle for a place on the podium!

There's not a lot of opportunity left for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet to pip Groupama 4 to the post in the Hauraki Gulf. Franck Cammas and his men put in a final tack to get past the most northerly point of New Zealand at around 0930 UTC this Friday, in what was still a steady breeze of over 25 knots on quite hard seas. The easterly wind will gradually clock round to the South-East for the descent towards Auckland and the team will have to link together a series of tack changes near the coast of New Zealand. One last slog for the crew then, who have built up nineteen days of fatigue in rather aggressive seas!

Fortunately the wind will gradually ease, switching down to less than twenty knots after North Cape, though it will be on the nose. At daybreak in the Antipodes, the breeze will only manage to reach around fifteen knots, on what will be increasingly manageable seas. The closer Groupama 4 gets to the finish line, the more the wind will have a tendency to ease, shrinking away to just a dozen knots as it shifts round to the East. As such it looks like a quick sprint to the finish in beam winds in the Hauraki Bay, very likely before sunset local time on Saturday! Perfect conditions for the locals and all the French team's supporters, who will go out to welcome in Franck Cammas and his men...

'It's very wet because we're close-hauled offshore of New Zealand. The wind has picked up due to Cape Reinga and the seas are pretty messy as the current is running against the breeze. We've had squalls of over thirty knots... We're trying to control the boat so as she doesn't suffer because we only have a seven-day break in Auckland and a very long leg (via Cape Horn) to follow. We have to go fast whilst remaining both reasonable and patient up to the finish line. This is especially true given that our navigator, Jean-Luc Nélias, has told us that there's going to be some compression of the fleet along the coast of New Zealand', commented Damian Foxall last night.

Even if nothing jams Groupama 4's progress over these last few miles (the weather forecasts remain rather favourable for the French boat), the lead of over a hundred miles that they're currently boasting, is set to shrink back a little. Indeed the chasing trio will benefit from this meteorological pacification to lengthen their stride. However, the main concern for the threesome now is to try to cover their closest rivals. The Americans managed to get the edge over the Spanish during a judicious counter tack. Puma is putting in a serious amount of effort to cover Telefonica, less than two miles to leeward. They're involved in an almighty battle of tack changes, the spoils of which will result in a podium place.

In addition to this, both crews are having to keep an eye on the locals of the leg, who struck off on their own this Friday morning (European time) by slipping beneath them. In this way Camper has moved up into second place as she approaches Cape Reinga and the New Zealanders are more than motivated to finish in one of the top spots in the 'Sailing Mecca'! The New Zealanders, like Groupama 4 before them, will have to put in a tack to get around the headland. Their Botin design is particularly fearsome upwind, which is forecast to be the most prominent point of sail until Poor Knights, an islet midway between Cape Reinga and the finish, as well as being the final course mark to be left to starboard. As such the three musketeers will be involved in a merciless crossing of swords and tacks for the last 200 miles...

Standings at 1300 UTC
1. Groupama 4 some 225.6 miles from the finish
2. Camper 110.6 miles astern of the leader
3. Puma 131.7 miles astern of the leader
4. Telefonica 133.6 miles astern of the leader
5. Abu Dhabi 179.9 miles astern of the leader
6. Sanya 198.1 miles astern of the Groupama Sailing Team website
Maritimo S SeriesCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERPredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

J/105 North American Championship overall
Randy's Hecht's Niuhi three-peats as champion In the finale of the J/105 North American Championship, Randy Hecht claimed victory for the third time, with crew Russ Silvestri, Ethan Doyle, Maggie Bacon, David Janinis and Stephen Marsh.
Posted today at 3:26 am
New trophy for 2025 Six Metre Worlds
Presented by HM King Juan Carlos of Spain The Opening Ceremony for the 2025 International Six Metre Open and Classic World Championships saw the 29 participating teams from nine nations gather on the waterside lawn of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club.
Posted today at 3:08 am
David Porter, King of Sydney Harbour in the 1970s
During one of the greatest eras in the 134-year history of the 18ft Skiff class During a 10-year career in the 18s from 1970-71 to 1979-80, inclusive, Dave Porter won the 1975 World Championship, three Australian and five NSW (State) championships as well as numerous club championships.
Posted today at 12:51 am
SailGP: Australia on top in Geneva- Day 1
The Flying Roos (AUS) top of the leaderboard, after the first day of racing in SailGP Switzerland. The Flying Roos sit on top of the leaderboard, after the first day of racing in SailGP Switzerland. This was the first test of the new light air foils, and three races were sailed, all completed within the time limits.
Posted today at 12:35 am
Another win for MACIF Santé Prévoyance
Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar victorious in Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération The British skipper Sam Goodchild, who was a key part of the crew on Biotherm that won The Ocean Race Europe, followed up with victory in the two-handed Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération 48 Hours race today.
Posted on 20 Sep
Team Malizia ends on a high
Boris Herrmann's team fourth in The Ocean Race Europe After five legs, over 4,500 nautical miles, and six weeks of intense offshore racing, The Ocean Race Europe 2025 concluded today in Boka Bay, Montenegro. Team Malizia delivered a strong performance, climbing the overall leaderboard to finish fourth.
Posted on 20 Sep
A podium finish for Holcim-PRB
Team showed drive, consistent performance and commitment in The Ocean Race Europe After six weeks of racing, Holcim-PRB sailed its final race of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 today in Montenegro. With a third-place finish in the coastal race in Boka Bay, the Swiss boat secured a spot on the podium, claiming the bronze medal.
Posted on 20 Sep
15th Défi Azimut - Acceleration and extension
Sleep? Dream on! The numerous videos posted by the OBRs (On-Board Reporters) on the Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération server this morning testify to the infinite patience and the depth of talent required by the crews to make the Occidentale de Sein.
Posted on 20 Sep
Rooster Outlet deals during the boat show
More lines, more sizes, and bigger savings, even if you're not visiting Southampton The Southampton International Boat Show is officially underway, and we're excited to be there showcasing the latest Rooster kit alongside some unmissable deals. If you're visiting SIBS, make sure to come and see us at stand no W062.
Posted on 20 Sep
BONDS Flying Roos in pole position in Geneva
Day 1 of Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix The BONDS Flying Roos top the event leaderboard with 25 points after opening day in Geneva. All 12 international teams battled shifty, light conditions, with those able to stay up on the foils and nail the maneuvers finding themselves still in the hunt.
Posted on 20 Sep