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2007/08/11 - 09h55
Legendary and tactical
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| Rolex Fastnet Race |
| Franck Cammas and his five crew will take the start of the 42nd edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race on 12th August amidst a
fleet of nearly 300 boats. Launched in 1925 this 'great classic' will see Groupama 2 make its debut performance in this 608
nautical mile course between Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, and Plymouth, via the infamous Fastnet Rock off the SW of Ireland.
The race will bring together a multitude of sail boats: from 60' multihulls and monohulls to maxi-monohulls, through to the
Class 40' boats and a host of other craft.
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Registered in the Orma 2007 calendar, the Rolex Fastnet Race is the 5th and penultimate event in the 60' multihull season.
After four races, three of which have been won by Groupama 2, Franck Cammas and his crew are leading the Championship, ahead
of Lionel Lemonchois, Pascal Bidégorry and Antoine Koch respectively.
Due to the large number of participants, the
starts of the different fleets will be staggered and the multihulls will bring up the rear shortly before 1200 hours.
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The 608 mile course viewed by Franck CammasFriday afternoon, less than two days from the start, the skipper of Groupama 2 gave us his analysis of the weather, bearing
in mind as ever that these forecasts may evolve between now and Sunday's start off Cowes.
The start on the Solent:
"The multihulls will be the last boats to set off, which will mean that we'll have to claw our way up through the whole
fleet of nearly 300 boats. The Solent may dish up a fair bit of current and I'm hoping that we won't end up in the same configuration
as in 1999. Back then we got a bit caught up in the current with little wind, unable to really manoeuvre... For the time being,
the forecasts are showing a moderate wind of around ten knots but that was last night's forecast, so between now and Sunday
thing's could still change."
The first few hours along the South coast of England: "The start of this
course is likely to hinge on a coastal option, with close-hauled tacking in 10 to 15 knots of breeze. The first part will
be all about tactics and trying to exploit the site and the currents to best effect. It should take us around ten hours to
make the Scilly Isles to the far SW of England."
The Irish Sea crossing: "We will still be sailing
close to the wind to make Southern Ireland but we'll be able to reach Fastnet on a single tack around ten hours down the track
from the Scillies. The wind will remain a moderate fifteen knots, perhaps freshening slightly as we approach Fastnet. Conditions
are also likely to become more favourable as the wind shifts round to the South."
The homeward leg to Plymouth
: "As we close on the English coast again, the wind is set to fill in considerably from the middle of the Irish Sea.
We'll be reaching in a SSE'ly wind to start with but then we'll be close-hauled again to conclude the race."
The
finish in Plymouth: "For the moment the routing shows us finishing at around 0400 hours UTC on Tuesday morning... to
be continued!"
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Groupama 2's crewFranck Cammas - skipper
Stève Ravussin - helm
Bruno Laurent - No.1, trimmer
Bruno Jeanjean
- No.1, trimmer
Frédéric Le Peutrec - helm
Romain Attanasio - Navigator
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Orma Multihull Championship 2007 Ranking* prior to the Rolex Fastnet Race1. Groupama 2 - 40 points (18+6+ 10 + 6)
2. Gitana 11 - 25 points (15+4+2 + 4)
2. Banque Populaire IV - 25
points (3+5+ 12 + 5)
4. Sopra Group - 17 points (3+ 3 + 8 + 3)
* AS Lease offshore race - coefficient 3 / Multihull
Trophy - Coef 1/ SNSM Trophy - Coef 2/ Défi Douarnenez (Douarnenez Challenge) - Coef 1
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