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2007/11/04 - 19h58
Salvador de Bahia here we come!
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Transat Jacques Vabre
From Le Havre to Salvador de Bahia |
| Twenty four hours after the monohulls, it was the turn of the multihulls to take the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007
from Le Havre, bound for Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. Franck Cammas and Stève Ravussin knew just how to reap the benefits
of the light conditions with little wind to take pole position shortly after the start.
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Sunday 4th November - 1302 hours off Le Havre
Sun, flat seas and a timid NW'ly wind not exceeding 4 knots proved
to be rather an atypical setting for a 4th November! Well placed and well within the timing, Groupama 2 crossed the start
line in 2nd position, just a few boat lengths behind Brossard, author of the best start. The hierarchy was soon upset however
with Franck Cammas and Stève Ravussin taking control of the fleet from the Général Metzinger mark. Renowned for being particularly
at ease in the light airs, the VPLP design has really been showing what it is made of once again. Concentrated on trimming
and applied to the trajectory of their machine, the Franco-Swiss duo lead the way, tailed closely by its two main competitors,
Banque Populaire and Gitana 11.
At the 1600 hour position report, whilst the first multihulls were already passing
off Barfleur, Groupama 2 was holding onto pole position.
Given the weather conditions currently reigning over the
Channel, it's set to be an intense first night at sea for our sailors, as Stève explained to us this morning shortly before
casting off: "It's likely to be a short night! The forecast is for light, shifty winds, which will force us to be vigilant
and concentrated. You have to constantly trim and ensure you don't ease off the pace!"
Ranking on 4th November
at 1600 hours
1. Groupama 2 (Franck Cammas - Stève Ravussin) 4296 miles from the finish
2. Banque
Populaire (Pascal Bidégorry - Yvan Ravussin) 1.1 miles from the leader
3. Gitana 11 (Lionel Lemonchois - Yann
Guichard) 3 miles back
4. Sopra Group (Antoine Koch - Grégory Gendron) 3.2 miles back
5. Brossard (Yvan
Bourgnon - Jacques Vincent) 5.5 miles back
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