Club Med back in the water with intensive training programme

by Club Med Media 30 Sep 2000 00:15 AEST

THEY'RE OFF AGAIN!

With a stronger more reliable boat and the arrival of Franck Proffit as co-skipper alongside Grant Dalton, Club Med is starting the final straight, with just one programme on the agenda, intensive training right up until the start of The Race.

After 6 weeks in the yard, the maxi-catamaran Club Med has gone back to sea. Redesigned bows, reinforcement of the forward sections for better reliability in case of shocks, modification of the lower sections considered too directional, new interior arrangement with notably the elimination of a galley to make way for a 'laundry' space. Nothing has been left to chance because the objective of this check-up, planned way back, was to optimise the necessary configuring of the boat less than 100 days from the start of The Race.

FRANCK PROFFIT, CO-SKIPPER

On the crew front, there have also been changes. The American Bobby Campbell and the Australian Mitch Booth have left, and Franck Profitt has arrived to take up the post of co-skipper alongside Grant Dalton explained 'I chose him, because he is tough and a team man, he will bring along his helming competence, and his perfect knowledge of multihulls, therefore completing the crew. Franck accompanied us for a few days, and he fitted in straight away. There is not the slightest problem aboard this boat, it's probably because of the mixture of cultures. The crew is in perfect harmony'. He had hardly stepped ashore from his first and happy participation in the Figaro Solo race, when Franck joined the Club Med team. 'It's not so easy to arrive on the scene so late after the boat's launching, but the team has grouped together a high level of complementary competence and above all it is supervised by a great professional,' admitted Franck. 'I had the occasion this winter to meet the various skippers and project leaders of The Race, because I really wanted to take part in this last great race of the century. Grant called me in the spring to offer me a place on Club Med as co-skipper. So we met and sailed together in La Trinité. It was revealing, because I left the crew with the firm intention of coming back to do The Race. It is a very motivating international adventure for me, there will be hitches, difficult moments and times of wonder, but I'm setting out with confidence'.

At 36, Franck can boast a fantastic track record including the following victories:

Winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre with Loïck Peyron on Fujicolor in 99
Winner of the Europe Race aboard Fujicolor in 92, 94 and 99
Helmsman of Mari-Cha III, holder of the monohull transatlantic record since 98
Winner of the Quebec St Malo on Fujicolor in 1996
Winner of the Multihull Trophy aboard Fujicolor in 90, 93, 94, 95 and 96
Helmsman on the Finnish maxi Belmont in the 1989/1990 Whitbread

Around Grant Dalton and Franck Proffit: Mike Quilter (NZL) ; Neal Mc Donald (GBR) ; Ed Danby (GBR/NZL) ; Guillermo Altadill (ESP), Ian Dekker (RSA/FRA) ; Jacques Caraës (FRA) ; Hervé Jan (FRA), Fred Le Peutrec (FRA) ; Nicolas Pichelin (FRA). An Italian member of crew will also be joining the team around October 15th In the shore team we have Paul Quinn (NZL) preparer, Gerald Moosbrugger (AUT) sailmaker, and Roger Badham (AUS) weather router.

ASK FOR THE PROGRAMME

100 days before the starting signal of The Race, Club Med's timetable is entirely dedicated to training.